The first hurdle for the Tampa Bay Rays to continue playing in the area beond the 2027 season has been cleared, as Thursday the St. Petersburg City Council voted 5-3 to pass the 12 binding agreements allocating funds and 105 acres of land on and surrounding the Tropicana Field site to build a ballpark and other developments.
The council members who voted for approval of the agreement:
- Deborah Figgs-Sanders
- Copley Gerdes
- Ed Montanari
- Brandi Gabbard
- Gina Driscoll
The council members who voted against the agreement:
- Richie Floyd
- Lisset Hanewicz
- John Muhammad
Tampa Bay Times reporter Colleen Wright was in the chamber as the voting was announced.
In a 5-3 vote, St. Petersburg has a deal. Chambers applaud as City Council approved 12 legally binding agreements with Pinellas County, the Tampa Bay Rays and development partner Hines for a new stadium and redevelopment, to be called the Historic Gas Plant District. pic.twitter.com/OWSdh257vp
— Colleen Wright (@Colleen_Wright) July 18, 2024
The agreements will have the city provide bonds totaling $287.5 million for the construction of a new closed roof ballpark, with the Rays spending $600 million on their portion and paying for any cost overruns as well as upkeep.
The final portion of funds, coming from the Pinellas County Commission, is expected to be voted on July 30.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
