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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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 […]
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 […]
Ballpark pitch will be heard by St. Pete — but officials will not respond
St. Petersburg will hear a pitch from a developer for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, but the City Council won’t be allowed to speak and there will be no direct communication with any Rays employees. Developer Darryl LeClair had requested the chance to lay out his proposal for a new Rays ballpark on a 12-acre […]
Parking huge issue for proposed Rays ballpark site
A proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark site in St. Petersburg’s Carillon Business Park may have one fatal flaw: the total lack of parking in the mostly developed 432-acre complex. On the plus side, the site sits near an exit from the Howard Frankland Bridge, the almost-five-mile bridge connecting St. Pete and Tampa and could provide a nice view […]
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 […]
Newly available land parcel could bring downtown Tampa ballpark — maybe
It’s not as though there are plenty of downtown Tampa land parcels suitable for a new ballpark, but the potential move of a large flour mill could get things rolling for a new Tampa Bay Rays facility. A mill owned and operated by ConAgra is a major presence in downtown Tampa in many ways: besides […]
Selig: Rays attendance is “inexcusable”
Taking a shot aimed more toward apathetic fans than the forces preventing a new ballpark, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said the Tampa Bay Rays attendance — or lack thereof — is “inexcusable.” Speaking at his annual press conference during All-Star festivities, the commissioner noted the Rays were 29th in MLB attendance (20,582 fans a game) […]