Thrive
St. Petersburg has likely lost Major League Baseball
The Tampa Bay Rays have likely taken their last at-bat in St. Petersburg, a reality begrudgingly recognized Thursday night by the team’s most ardent supporters in and outside City Hall.
This much is clear: The current iteration of a partnership that Mayor Ken Welch compared to an engagement in January 2023 is over. The team said as much in a letter sent Tuesday to Pinellas County Commissioners, who were supposed to help pay for the wedding.
Rays president Brian Auld quashed any remaining optimism Thursday evening as the St. Petersburg City Council debated approving a bond sale to finance the city’s contribution for a new $1.37 billion stadium. “We need to accept the facts on the ground as they are,” he said.
“I hate to be the one to keep suggesting it, but I can’t continue to move forward based on what I’ve seen from the county,” Auld continued. “We sent the letter, quite simply, because the conversations we’ve been having don’t seem to be landing.”
The council voted 5-2 to postpone the vote no later than Jan. 9. The county will revisit its bond issuance Dec. 17.
Mayor Ken Welch told the city council he would not ask for additional project funding. Rendering: Hines/Tampa Bay Rays.
The team’s letter stated that the commission’s Oct. 29 decision to postpone a perceived formality rendered agreements approved in July financially unfeasible. It also referenced a Nov. 5 deadline. Voters elected two new commissioners with varying levels of opposition to replace staunch supporters.
Before the bond discussion, the city council approved a $23.7 million contract to repair Tropicana Field’s storm-damaged dome. Auld told officials to save their money. Council members later reversed their vote.
“I believe it is going to be next to impossible for the Trop to be repaired in time for the 2026 season,” he explained. “Efforts to try and repair it in time for that will cause us to have a parallel path for some other alternative for the 2026 season.
“And that feels to me like a bad use of funds across the entire group.”
The Rays prefer a settlement to negate the current use agreement with the city for Tropicana Field. City Administrator Rob Gerdes has told commissioners and the council that those discussions were ongoing but declined to discuss the financials publicly.
He and Welch have repeatedly stated that it is in the city’s best interest to repair the Trop and keep the Rays in St. Petersburg. Gerdes will now seek an annulment.
“Based on the comments that were made by Mr. Auld tonight, I think the respectable thing (for the Rays) to do would be to deliver us a written notice of termination,” he said.
There is a sliver of hope – although it is harder to see than a baseball navigating the Trop’s catwalks – that the partners can work out a new agreement to save the $6.7 billion Historic Gas Plant redevelopment project. A new ballpark was supposed to anchor and increase the viability of a vibrant mixed-use district that would help right some of the past wrongs endured by the previously displaced Black community.
Mayor Ken Welch shares a moment with Gwendolyn Reese, president of the African American Heritage Association and a former Gas Plant resident, after the long-awaited project received approval in July. Photo by Mark Parker.
“While we are disappointed that we are pausing the repair of Tropicana Field and the bond issuance that would finance the city’s contribution to a new stadium, we believe there remains a path forward,” Welch said in a prepared statement. “My administration is prepared to bring a modified plan back to city council for their consideration. However, I want to make it clear that this plan will not include additional funds from the city.
“We maintain our position that the Historic Gas Plant District is an equitable economic driver that will benefit future generations. Ultimately, we remain committed to carrying out our contractual obligations and stand ready to work with our partners in the weeks ahead.”
Gerdes said the administration assumes the Rays are raising private equity to offset the likely loss of $312.5 in county tourist tax dollars. The team’s letter concluded by stating their willingness to work on a new solution; Councilmember Gina Driscoll said that gave her hope.
“Let’s explore that,” she told a somber chamber. “I can’t wait to hear what happens.”
Auld told the council that the letter was not meant to sound threatening. “I apologize for the tone in which it was received,” he said.
Rumors of the team relocating to another market have recently hit a crescendo. However, the team’s letter reiterated their goal to keep “Major League Baseball (MLB) in Tampa Bay for generations to come.”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred recently pledged the league’s regional commitment. He told mlb.com Wednesday that “we’re focused on (keeping) our franchise in Tampa Bay right now.”
The team will play at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa for at least the 2026 season. Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, a longtime advocate for bringing the Rays across the bay, believes the city could still provide a permanent home.
“Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been laying the groundwork with our team,” he said Wednesday on the JP Peterson Show. “When the time comes … we’re going to be ready.”
Before Thursday evening’s discussion concluded, City Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders encapsulated the mood likely shared by Rays fans throughout St. Petersburg. “This is a sad place,” she said.
“I’m extremely disappointed,” Figgs-Sanders added. “I thought we were better than this.”
Ryan Todd
November 22, 2024at4:20 pm
Welch is still trying to make a deal happen. Tone deaf?
Fire this imbecile already. This deal was his administration’s main-effort and it’s a tremendous failure. He still wants to sell the taxpayers out to Stu Sternberg.
Recall election already. How can we trust him to lead us?
Steve Sullivan
November 22, 2024at4:17 pm
Everyone on here is talking like they were personally affected by the gas plant site being taken from the black folks who lived and worked there and none of you or your families have. If you are not going to build that stadium for baseball give it back to the families who lived. But,no you will claim stolen land as your own and then say you know what’s best for black people. Get out of here!!!!!!!
Dan Mayer
November 22, 2024at3:02 pm
Oh no , what will we do without a bunch Drunk drivers on the road Clogging up downtown once a week min ….. what a tragedy …dont let the door hit you on the way out and take the new pier along with all your 50 story new york paid eyesore skyscrappers give us back our small artsy community vibe .good riddance
Alan DeLisle
November 22, 2024at2:55 pm
Kari said it well. Terrible deals die; fair deals survive. This deal violated every principle associated with quality public-private development. The Rays got too greedy and the city folded with horrible leadership.
Perhaps Welch should call Midtown!! After all his shortsighted decision making and lack of economic development knowledge, good luck with that call. Maybe Mayor Kriseman can help.
I guess it’s easier to cancel projects than to get them approved and built.
MIKE F
November 22, 2024at2:54 pm
I’m not understanding why a new stadium would be built in St Pete? Have you seen the attendance the last 20 years EVEN when they are in contention?
Why not closer to the I-4 corridor near Hard Rock/ Fairgrounds where fans from Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando would fill the stadium if located there
It will be the same old story if they locate it in the same spot
Jerry
November 22, 2024at2:49 pm
Why do sport teams that pay employees ( players) millions of dollars a year think hard working locals who make a fraction of that money should help pay for anything to keep them employed?
John
November 22, 2024at12:26 pm
Welch has been a total disappointment as Mayor. Botched the Moffit Deal, couldn’t get this deal done and the Hurricane Piles are still all over the city, let alone his issues within his own staff.
Kari Mueller
November 22, 2024at12:22 pm
The impacts to residents and the beaches from the hurricanes made it impossible for Pinellas County commissioners to vote to dedicate $312.5 million in hotel taxes to the stadium without knowing the full impact to the beaches and tourism first. These taxes can’t be used for infrastructure, however, the County Commissioners have a duty to serve the residents and the local businesses that were affected in addition to the Rays.
The Rays claim the delay by the County Commissioners killed the deal. When the County Commissioners met again, there were two newly elected commissioners who were skeptical of the deal and three previous supporters were no longer on the commission.
Maybe if the Rays hadn’t been so greedy and asked for so much more in addition to $600 million in public subsidies for the stadium, the new commissioners would have voted for approval. It had been stated previously by County Commissioners that the Rays should receive the stadium subsidy OR the land and infrastructure but not BOTH.
The Rays shouldn’t have been so greedy and asked for more than was acceptable knowing that the make up of the County Commission could change before final approval of the financing. I would go one step further and say the public elected commissioners specifically because they were dissatisfied with the unbalanced deal and this contributed to the loss of 2 yes votes and the election of 2 commissioners who were critical of the deal.
Yesterday during the City Council meeting, it was astonishing to watch Brian Auld tell the media during the City Council recess that the deal was off, and not tell City Council, the Mayor or the administration.
This was AFTER the council approved $23 million to pay for roof repairs to the Tropicana. Council took up the stadium bond deliberations not knowing his statements.
For the Rays to allow the council to continue deliberating without knowing Brian Auld told the press the DEAL IS OFF shows you exactly what kind of “partner” the Rays are. This after we gave them EVERYTHING they wanted, that’s how we get treated. There is nothing that the Rays have asked for from the City that they haven’t received.
Now it is becoming more apparent who we are dealing with. There is no respect even for the City Council who approved the deal, nor the Mayor, nor the administration. The blame for this deal falling apart lies squarely on the Rays organization.
If it wasn’t for the hurricane, it’s likely the County would have approved the bonds. However, we would be embarking on a 30 year partnership with a “partner” that has no loyalty, respect or care for the public, the Council, the Mayor or even the fans.
Rob Gerdes asked for written notice to terminate the deal. Now we’ll see who we’re dealing with in the upcoming months.
Rob Defield
November 22, 2024at12:08 pm
We didn’t lose the teams, the team lost the city.
What did they expect when they decided to threaten and demand more money after TWO devastating hurricanes?
The owners are greedy, arrogant opportunists who’ve spent the last 10+ years insulting the area instead of showing their actual commitment to being a part of the area.
The sad part is Figgs Sanders and the other 3 supporters on council who STILL think a multibillion dollar team deserves money and attention over thousands of citizens who are still suffering from the effects of the storms. Makes you wonder who was getting paid to vote and endorse this travesty.