USA: Rays respond to letter regarding the future of new stadium project
source: StadiumDB.com; author: Paulina Skóra
The Tampa Bay Rays sent a reply to the Pinellas County Commission, providing additional details about the future of the agreement for a new stadium.
Advertisement
New commission lineup may alter previous decisions
This follows Commissioner Kathleen Peters' letter asking the team to clarify whether they intend to commit to the new stadium deal or withdraw from it. After a county commission vote several weeks ago, uncertainty arose about the Rays' commitment to the stadium expansion. The previous commission had approved the agreement, but the new commissioners voted to delay the issuance of project bonds.
In their initial letter, they stated they were willing to work with anyone to find a new solution, a new path forward to keeping the Rays in St. Pete and Pinellas County,
said Commissioner Vince Nowicki, a long-time opponent of the stadium construction who joined the commission in November. He aims to renegotiate the deal with the Rays. In the latest letter from team representatives, they claimed they wouldn’t have finalized the deal if they had known the commission's stance might change.
© CityofStPete (cc: by-nc) | Tropicana Field
Rays blame the county for the impasse
In a statement, Rays president Matt Silverman said: When it comes to respecting the spirit of new stadium agreements, it is Pinellas County, not the Rays, that is falling short. The Rays have always relied on certainty regarding approval and funding of the project before the November 2024 elections.
Silverman added that the team would not have agreed to the project if they had known delays and council decision changes were possible. However, he emphasized that the team has fulfilled its commitments and is awaiting a decision from the county and St. Pete.
Commissioner Peters responded on Saturday, expressing her continued support for the project despite recent disagreements with the Rays: While the Rays have publicly stated that 'the deal is dead,' their written statement suggests otherwise. Despite the Rays' recent lack of political savvy, I have always been optimistic about this project due to its potential significant economic impact on our county
, Peters said. To keep taxes low for residents, we must develop new funding streams. I look forward to further discussions with my colleagues about how this stadium can achieve that while solidifying Pinellas as a diverse tourist destination.
The Pinellas County Commission is set to vote on project funding on December 17. Until now, the Tampa team has played at Tropicana Field. The stadium suffered damage during Hurricane Milton.
© Paul Sheppard | Tropicana Field
Advertisement