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 […]
Tag Archives | pinellas county
LeClair unveils intriguing ballpark plan for Rays
Darryl LeClair laid out an intriguing new-ballpark strategy for the Tampa Bay Rays at the St. Pete Carillon Park, with office buildings and apartments forming the ballpark’s exterior. It’s a bold attempt to lay out a new ballpark on an extremely small footprint — 12 acres or so — with a very limited amount of […]
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 […]
St. Pete mayor: There’s nothing wrong with the Trop
The simmering debate over the worthiness of Tropicana Field as the home of the Tampa Bay Rays continues, as broadcaster John Kruk and manager Joe Maddon all take shots at the place, with St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster declaring it fit for MLB. The latest incidents: a bank of lights went out Monday night, causing […]
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 […]