Neither Tampa nor St. Petersburg holds an advantage when it comes to funding a new Tampa Ray Rays ballpark, as a study indicates existing revenue streams in both cities could be tapped without residents facing a tax increase. The Baseball Stadium Finance Caucus, a joint effort of the St. Petersburg and Tampa chambers of commerce, […]
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Poll: St. Pete voters opposed to public financing of new Rays ballpark
We’re not sure this will change the dynamics of the discussions, but it’s worth noting: a poll of St. Petersburg voters showed heavy opposition to any public financing of a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark. The poll, from StPetePolls.com, called 1,424 registered voters on Nov. 12 to gauge attitudes on a variety of issues in […]
Foster: We won’t allow Rays to talk new ballpark in Tampa
St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster shot down a proposal by the Tampa Bay Rays to explore new-ballpark sites in Tampa, arguing that if the Rays are allowed to shop around, they could end up leaving the region. Now, the Rays ownership have shown absolutely no interest in leaving Tampa Bay, and there are no cities […]
Experts: St. Pete should worry about making Rays deal now, not damages down the road
Instead of being obsessed about laying the groundwork for damages should the Tampa Bay Rays leave the Trop, St. Pete officials should be concerned more about making a deal to keep the team in town, say experts. It’s fair to say St. Petersburg has been defensive in its dealing with the Rays about the Trop: […]
St. Pete ratchets up legal threats over new Rays ballpark
Just when it appears there’s some movement on a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, St. Petersburg officials step in to throw cold water on the proceedings, threatening to sue anyone who pitches the team on a new facility. The legal threat comes from St. Petersburg City Attorney John Wolfe, sent directly to Hillsborough County attorneys […]
Is a business park the best place for a Rays ballpark?
As the debate continues over a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, real-estate experts say a business park with limited parking may not be the best location. Developer Darryl LeClair has pitched the city and the Rays on a unique plan to nestle a ballpark in the middle of a commercial development, Carillon Business Park. The […]
More land assembled for new Rays ballpark?
The sale of a half-dozen contiguous parcels in downtown Tampa could foreshadow yet another proposal for a Tampa Bay Rays ballpark site, this time from Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik. The land, close to the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Channelside Drive, was purchased for $9.5 million by a corporation that involves Vinik and […]
Rays propose ballpark talks after Trop situation worked out
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 […]
The Week That Was: October 7
New Astros uniforms, potential new Rays ballparks, teams maneuvering for 2013 and ownership changes made headlines this past week. The top stories on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Astros to unveil new uniforms Nov. 2 Loudoun Hounds: We have deal for 2014 ballpark Cubs pitch new seating behind Wrigley Field home plate Abundance […]
The Week That Was: September 30
Affiliation news, attendance tallies, a new-ballpark proposal for the Tampa Bay Rays and previews for 2013. The top stories of the week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Angels to Burlington, A’s to Beloit Quad Cities, Astros announce affiliation Can-Am League expands to Trois-Rivières for 2013 2012 Baseball Attendance by Average 2012 Independent […]
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 […]
Developer set to introduce Rays ballpark plan Friday
Developer Darryl LeClair is set to unveil his new-ballpark plan for the Tampa Bays Rays Friday at a special St. Petersburg City Council meeting, and it’s safe to say no one has a clue about what he’ll propose. LeClair has briefed city and council officials about the outlines of his plan, but it doesn’t sound like […]
Hudson Valley, Tampa Bay extend PDC
The Hudson Valley Renegades (short season A; NY-Penn League) and the Tampa Bay Rays extended their player-development contract (PDC) through the 2014 season. The two teams have been affiliated since 1997. The news was first reported by the Poughkeepsie Journal. Here’s a look at the current affiliate status. —- Share your news with the baseball […]