The Tampa Bay Rays say they want to move ahead and consider ballpark proposals in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties — but only after addressing the future of Tropicana Field. There’s been a flurry of activity on the ballpark front for the Rays, with two new proposals (Carillon Park in St. Pete and downtown Tampa) being […]
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Tampa Bay: We’ll listen to St. Pete ballpark pitch
The Tampa Bay Rays will send reps to hear a pitch from developer Darryl LeClair regarding a new St. Petersburg ballpark, but Stuart Sternberg is still pushing a regional solution that also includes Tampa. LeClair is set to present a plan to the St. Petersburg City County for a new Rays ballpark on a 12-acre site […]
Pinellas County, private investor want to pitch Rays, St. Pete on ballpark plans
Pinellas County and a private developer are adding their voices to the groups looking to talk with the Tampa Bay Rays about a new ballpark, as interest in a facility is heating up. Tuesday saw the Pinellas County Commission step in and request a meeting with the Rays and St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster about the future of the team, […]
Rays: We’ll talk new ballpark with Hillsborough County
Tampa Bay Rays ownership says they’ll sit down with Hillsborough County to discuss a new ballpark — even as St. Petersburg officials hint at legal action to keep the team at Tropicana Field. Yesterday Hillsborough County commissioners voted 5-2 to invite the Rays ownership, as well as reps from St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, for […]
Hillsborough County: Nothing legally bars us from talking new ballpark with Rays
Despite the insistence from St. Petersburg officials that the Tampa Bay Rays are barred from talking new ballpark with anyone else, Hillsborough County legal staff says they can enter talks whenever they want. The legal decision really comes down to some basic contract law: since Hillsborough County (which includes Tampa) isn’t a party to the […]
Hillsborough County ready to make run at new Rays ballpark
Tired of the lack of progress on development of a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, an influential Hillsborough County commissioner says he’s ready to get the county directly involved in discussions. The Rays have been talking for years with St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster, local business leaders and regional politicians about a replacement for Tropicana […]
Rays: Prove to us Tampa Bay can support baseball
We’re seeing a new strategy on how the Tampa Bay Rays are addressing their ballpark situation: ask for help on the marketing front and raise the distinct possibility the area can’t support professional baseball. Rays owner Stuart Sternberg had a much-anticipated meeting with St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster yesterday to discuss the state of things […]
Tampa: We could have $100M for new Rays ballpark
Money currently generated by a downtown Tampa TIF district to pay down convention-center bonds could be used in 2015 and beyond for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, according to city officials. The tax-increment financing district currently generates some $13.5 million a year, and the Tampa Convention Center bons are slated to be paid off […]
Pinellas County extends hotel tax — but not enough for new Rays ballpark
Things are getting interesting in Tampa Bay: Pinellas County extended a 5 percent hotel tax to 2021 — far short of the time needed to potentially pay off a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark — while the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce announced ballpark financing would be one of the group’s main priorities in 2011. […]
Selig still “concerned” about Rays ballpark situation
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is still concerned about the Tampa Bay Rays ballpark situation and plans to meet with team leadership as soon as they’re willing to talk about possible solutions. “We will have very meaningful discussions. Whenever they’re ready, I’m ready,” Selig told the St. Petersburg Times. “They know what they need, and they […]
Pinellas County mulls hotel-tax extension for new Rays ballpark
Money talks when it comes to new ballparks, and Pinellas County may have a strong speaking voice when it comes to a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark: the new new board of commissioners is considering an extension of the county bed tax to help pay for a new facility — something Hillsborough County cannot offer. […]
Rays: No, we’re not interested in limiting ballpark search to St. Pete
After the city of St. Petersburg offered to amend the Tampa Bay Rays’ lease to allow for a new ballpark in Pinellas County with no penalties for leaving the Trop, the Rays have countered by saying any new-ballpark search much encompass the entire Tampa Bay area. After the city of St. Petersburg offered to amend […]