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County may extend contract with consultant for stadium deal
Pinellas County may funnel more funds to the consultant tapped with helping the city and county reach a new stadium deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.
On Tuesday, the Pinellas County Commission will review a contract with New York-based consultant Inner Circle Sports. The new contract, valued at $66,000, replaces and extends a previous contract the commission executed with Inner Circle in 2021.
When first hired, Inner Circle Sports was tasked with assisting the city in the stadium negotiations and helping draft a preliminary agreement with the Major League Baseball team. The firm was to provide a clear understanding of the MLB franchise and handle on the Rays’ financial situation regarding the costs they have to incur, and considerable profits.
When the St. Petersburg City Council voted on the original agreement, Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton said there would be a three-phased process and that more costs for the consulting firm would surface.
The new contract entails the same scope of work for three months following the execution of the contract. If approved, the consultant will receive a total of $286,000, according to Pinellas County records.
Funding for the agreement is budgeted in the capital funding program of the tourist development tax fund.
The proposed contract extension comes as St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch’s administration is working towards a stadium redevelopment agreement with the selected Tampa Bay Rays and Hines development team.
The city officials did not immediately respond to questions sent by the St. Pete Catalyst regarding the scope of work the consultant has completed to date and the additional funding requirements.
A city spokeswoman said city officials do not directly respond to questions that are tied to active negotiations.
However, Tampa Bay Rays President Brian Auld and Rays Chief Communications Officer Rafela Amador are meeting with commissioners over the next several weeks to provide a “general update.”
