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 […]
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Tampa Bay, St. Pete business leaders combine forces for new Rays ballpark
Realizing there’s a lot of at stake if a regional approach isn’t used, business leaders from both Tampa and St. Petersburg have joined forces on a Baseball Stadium Financing Caucus, charged with finding funding mechanisms for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark. The caucus is a joint effort from Chambers of Commerce in both cities. […]
Could Rays declare bankruptcy to escape Trop lease?
Though there’s been no indication by the Tampa Bay Rays ownership that bankruptcy is an option, the City of St. Petersburg is wary enough of the potential lease-ending legal move that it’s looking at hiring bankruptcy counsel to counter any possible action by the team. Declaring bankruptcy to avoid a lease isn’t exactly unknown in […]
Oakland, Tampa Bay on cusp of contraction? Not so fast
Forbes Magazine continues to beat the drum for the possible of contraction of the Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays by 2015, but Mike Ozanian may be proving to be a useful idiot for Major League Baseball, as baseball pulls out a familiar tool to push municipalities for new ballparks. In this video and this […]
Now at Al Lang Field: The International Baseball Series
Hungry for some baseball at Al Lang Field? Then check out the St. Pete International Baseball, where teams from around the world — including the Blue Jays, Phillies and Rays — compete at the historic spring-training facility now through March 13. The tournament, sponsored by the St. Petersburg Sports Alliance, hasn’t been publicized very well, […]
Rays go with new turf for ’11 season
The playing surface at Tropicana Field will be upgraded for the 2011 season, as the Tampa Bay Rays announce the impending installation of a American-made, 1.1-million-square-foot AstroTurf field. “The AstroTurf fiber and in-fill systems contain the very latest technology and will provide our players the best playing surface available,” said Rays President Matt Silverman. “Our […]
Tampa Sports Authority declines to participate in Rays ballpark talks — for now
The Tampa Stadium Authority, involved in both Raymond James Stadium and St. Pete Times Forum, is declining once again to be a part of any Tampa Bay Rays ballpark planning — for now. The reason: any overt discussions of a new ballpark could be seen as tampering with the Rays’ current lease at Tropicana Field […]
Chamber to take up Rays ballpark cause
The Tampa Chamber of Commerce is grabbing a larger role in the debate over a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, launching a study to determine possible private funding of a ballpark but steering clear of specific locations. The avoidance of locations is being done with the hopes of including St. Petersburg and Pinellas County in […]
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. […]
Cost of running The Trop for St. Pete: at least $7.3M annually
Besides the $6 million in annual debt service, it costs the city of St. Petersburg at least a million more annually to host the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Explain to us again why the city is so eager to keep the Trop and block the Rays from a new ballpark, because the existing […]
The Week That Was: Nov. 21
It was a big week in independent baseball, as three leagues joined forces to form the North American League. Also hot this week: new names and logos, college football at MLB ballparks, and more. Here are the most popular stories on Ballpark Digest the past week, as measured in page views. Three indy leagues joining […]
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. […]