Know
Welch ‘definitely’ open to talking same deal with new Rays owner
“Those development rights are the City’s now; they’re not the Rays’ after 30 years,” Welch said. “That gives us a very, very strong negotiating position now.”
Editor’s note: This story was produced for Poliverse, a new politics brand and the first feature built on the Cityverse platform. Poliverse – launching soon – will feature hyper-local reporting, insider perspectives, citizen voices and more engaging political content.
Reports of the death of the Historic Gas Plant District deal may be premature, Poliverse can exclusively reveal – but legislative agreement may be much harder to come by than it was in 2023.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said that he considered the deal offered to Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg, which was formally terminated last month, to be a basis for negotiation with the incoming Zalupski ownership group, which is in advanced talks to purchase the Rays for $1.7 billion.
“If they came and wanted the same offer, we’d definitely have a conversation,” Welch said in an interview Thursday.
He stopped short of supporting a renewed deal as-is, however. Welch highlighted the changed realities both the City and the Rays will face, thanks particularly to the City assuming development rights to the 86 acres underlying the Gas Plant deal. While the Historic Gas Plant deal collapsed, rights to redevelop the land the stadium was built on had already been transferred from the Rays to the City and were not affected by the deal’s termination.
“Probably the biggest unspoken or unknown part of the deal is that those development rights are the City’s now; they’re not the Rays’ after 30 years,” Welch said. “That gives us a very, very strong negotiating position now.
“To me that changes some of the key points of that agreement, namely the price of the land.”
Welch admitted that Administration had not yet spoken to the incoming ownership group headed by DreamFinders CEO Patrick Zalupski; a scheduled meeting was cancelled by Zalupski’s team. However, he expressed confidence that this would still take place and that the new ownership group could bring renewed focus to a long-term, local solution for the Rays that included St. Petersburg.
Even if an agreement can be made with Zalupski, who is thought to favor a Hillsborough County option, the political math is also daunting. The original deal was passed by a razor thin 5-3 margin in City Council – a tied vote is a “no” based on Council rules. The Pinellas County Commission, meanwhile, lost two deal supporters in Democrats Charlie Justice and Janet Long after the 2024 elections; they were replaced by deal skeptics Chris Scherer and Vince Nowicki, both Republicans. Their accession partially prompted the delay in approving the stadium bonds and, ultimately, the original deal’s collapse.
Neither ultimately voted to approve the bonds, and much of that money has since been earmarked for beach renourishment efforts.
Welch was nevertheless optimistic when asked about seeking approval. “We might have improved leverage at the county level,” he said, due to the relationship Zalupski has with Governor Ron DeSantis and other senior Republican politicians at the state level. Zalupski was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the University of Florida by DeSantis and was known to be his strong supporter.
Commission Chair Brian Scott, a deal supporter, believes “blue sky is still there” regarding County support for retaining the Rays, but that it would be a challenge as they lean into much-needed beach renourishment for hard-hit Gulf towns.
“The one thing on the County Commission that has changed is that we ran scenarios regarding beach nourishment. If we had to do it 100% on our own in perpetuity, and fund the stadium, and fund Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, and do something for the Phillies – we could do it, but it’d be tight,” said Scott. “Now we are spending $125 million on beach renourishment.
“I think the appetite for baseball spending has changed,” warned Scott. “I believe there will be majority consensus for ‘yeah, we want to keep the Rays in St. Petersburg.’ It comes down to – what is the number?”
The St. Petersburg City Council will be the bigger challenge. Even deal supporters were lukewarm or dismissive when the idea of going back to the Gas Plant deal was presented to them.
In a statement Councilmember Gina Driscoll, widely considered to be the decisive swing vote on the original 5-3 passage, said, “The Tampa Bay Rays belong in St. Petersburg. I would welcome the opportunity to work with team ownership on a new plan with new terms.”
When pressed, Driscoll agreed only that portions of the original deal may be “a starting point” for future negotiations.
Councilmember Mike Harting, who has been a skeptic of the deal and replaced “yes”’ voter Ed Montanari on the Council, made clear he did not anticipate re-assessing the Gas Plant deal. “My reaction is that I think we’ve got enough on our plate now. I feel like that ship has sailed.
“It’s not something that I have an appetite for.”
Harting added that between the City’s St. Pete Agile Resiliency (SPAR) initiative and the need to multiply by three times the amount of local roads that the City is replacing, he did not see how any public expenditure on a new stadium was possible.
Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, a “yes” vote on the Gas Plant deal who is widely rumored to be a mayoral contender in 2026, was dismissive of the possibility that the same deal could even be considered.
“We have a lot of priorities we need to get under control,” she said, citing infrastructure and homelessness specifically. “I definitely know that my priorities have shifted.
“If anyone is looking at our City the same way they did in July of 2024, they are missing what’s going in people’s lives.”
Raymond Tampa
August 14, 2025at8:43 pm
Kari, you’re on fire with all of your well documented comments. I fully agree with your assessment that Alan DeLisle’s knowledge, experience, and expertise serves us better that the unqualified opinions of some others. Clearily, I remember this statement he made after thoroughly reviewing the Development Agreement between the city and the Rays/Hines Team. He said, “No Development Agreement is perfect, but no city deserves an agreement this bad.”
Kari Mueller
August 14, 2025at4:32 pm
I served as the only member of the Historic Gas Plant Community Benefits Council that lived within 1 mile of the stadium as a resident of the Campbell Park neighborhood. I voted NO, that the Community Benefits were not adequate compared to the substantial investment of public assets including contribution of $686 million in property taxes and 80 acres of publicly owned land. The Community Benefits were smoke and mirrors, allowing for the developer to opt out of building ANY affordable housing by paying a small penalty. The funding for the African American History museum was dependent on the Woodson raising an unreasonable amount in an unreasonably short period of time. This became evident almost immediately when the construction of the museum quickly fell through. There were no environmental standards like the US Green Building Council LEED standard (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) that nearly every other public private partnership in the country requires. Plus, the benefits were paid by the public in the sale of the land, not by the developer. The land was going to be sold for $105 million to the developers and the taxpayers would have been responsible for paying for $132 million for Hines’ private real estate development infrastructure. Property taxes paid by the developer would have been deferred until individual buildings were put into service. These concessions to the developer would have been in addition to the $287.5 million the city of St Pete taxpayers contributed and $312 million County TDC/hotel tax contributions. Since the city didn’t have the $287.5 million, taxpayers would have to take out debt for 30 years and with interest the amount ballooned to $686 million. This money would come out of the taxes from the Intown CRA, which includes some of the most valuable real estate in the city on Central Ave and Beach Drive. It would have meant that 50% of the taxes from these buildings including 400 Central and other high rises, would have been diverted to pay back this debt FOR 30 YEARS. That means taxpayers from outside the CRA would have to pay for the hole left in revenue left by the 50% siphoned off to the Rays, that means you and I would have had to pay the amount the CRA was short. Politicians can say otherwise, that there was “extra money in the CRA” etc., but don’t be fooled. CRA funds come from PROPERTY TAXES. When you divert 50% of property taxes out of the CRA, the services and needs are still the same and need to be paid so where else would the money come from except for outside of the CRA and by the rest of us. This was an abuse of what a CRA is for, which was orginally economic revitalization of downtown St Pete. It shoudn’t be used to subsidize developes and sports team owners. Stu Sternberg is already selling the team and likely will walk away with a $1 billion in profit, he didn’t need us to subsidize him so he can sell the team and walk away with the equity. Neither does the future owner.
Kari Mueller
August 14, 2025at4:22 pm
I’ve worked as a civil engineer for over 20 years on large commercial construction projects as well as for multiple municipalities and I support Alan Delisle’s continual professional input on this site.
There’s no comparison between the expertise of the previous Director of Development for the City of St Petersburg and a restaurant manager who benefits from alcohol sales on games days (and self identified expert on the project).
In addition to Mr Boland indicating in September of last year that the scientists were wrong for predicting a bad storm season, recently saying St Pete isn’t as vulnerable to flooding as other areas, and stating that the Rays/Hines deal was a good deal for the taxpayer, I’ll choose to take advice from qualified and experienced professionals like Alan Delisle.
Alan Delisle cares more about the city residents than the elected representatives and the 5 sold out city council members and Mayor who promoted the horrible Rays/Hines deal. Thank you Alan!
I agree 100% with his statement which is fully supported by facts that can be easily found by googling the amount of subsidies the Rays would have received in addition to gifting them the land, paying for their private real development infrastructure, deferring property taxes and the lack of any substantial community benefits.
“The original Rays deal was the worst MLB deal ever negotiated and supported. Anyone close to it should be rejected by the voters. And Welch wants to recycle it.”
Kari Mueller
August 14, 2025at4:17 pm
Voters, please remember the supporters of the horrible Rays/Hines deal that include Copley Gerdes, Deborah Figgs-Sanders, and Brandi Gabbard. City Council member Gina Driscoll and prior Council member Ed Montanari were responsible for killing the much better deal with Midtown Developers and supporting giving away the city to the Rays for no return (other than keeping a team not even named after St Pete). County Commissioners Charlie Justice and Janet Long were voted out after supporting the horrible Rays/Hines deal and replaced by Chris Scherer and Vince Nowicki as they were rightfully critical of the deal. Corey Givens Jr and Mike Harting were voted in after also being rightfully skeptical of the Rays/Hines deal.
Voters, please remember the facts and vote for those who represent the residents in ACTIONS and not just theatrics and saying what people want to hear.
Any representative who supported the horrible Rays/Hines deal supported indebting the city for 30 years with astronomical debt KNOWING we were vulnerable to hurricane damage and suffering from outdated infrastructure. Those are the FACTS. Don’t let them fool you that they care about infrastructure or the residents, we come second after their corporate friends.
Support those who stayed strong throughout the negotiations and voted NO including Richie Floyd, Brother John Muhammad, Lissett Hanewicz, Vince Nowicki and Chris Scherer and support newly elected representatives Corey Givens Jr and Mike Harting!!
Raymond Tampa
August 14, 2025at3:35 pm
Say it loud!
Alan DeLisle
August 14, 2025at5:00 am
Peter
I have been in the arena a lot longer than you will ever be.
Peter Boland
August 13, 2025at7:46 am
Maybe I will, Alan — far more noble in my opinion to be a loser after competing in the arena, than to be a loser complaining from the sidelines.
Alan DeLisle
August 13, 2025at4:46 am
Peter
Why don’t you run again and lose.
Peter Boland
August 12, 2025at3:47 pm
Alan, you should run for Mayor and then maybe you can share all your grand visions. Only thing is you would have to actually live here.
John Burczyk
August 12, 2025at3:37 pm
As an 11 year resident of the city…NFW.
Joseph Martin
August 12, 2025at1:00 pm
My father ,was a season ticket holder when the Rays came to St. Pete, so I attended a lot of games with him in those early years.
Looking at at all those empty seats it was obvious that picking St. Pete, and that specific location was a big mistake. We live in Jacksonville
and would attend a number of games every year if the stadium was on the east side of Tampa. That location would also create a huge
new fan base in the Orlando/Central Florida market. It’s simply too far to drive through Tampa, particularly during rush hour just prior
to weekday night games.
Rick Hunt
August 12, 2025at12:32 pm
Buh bye Rays. A flea market will bring in more money for the city and it’s needed more
Layne Boleman
August 12, 2025at10:47 am
After failing in spite of everything to push through an insanely expensive, lopsided luxury stadium boondoggle for the billionaire team owners, Mayor Welch reappears to show his constituents that he’s learned absolutely nothing.
The stubborn incompetence of our mayor continues to defy belief.
Taxes and bills are going up, while employment and home sales are tanking. We’re going into a New storm season, while flooding is rampant and existing infrastructure damage has yet to be repaired. And yet our feckless mayor can think of nothing better to do than to telegraph to the new owners that he’s just as big of a sucker as ever.
His administration has become an embarrassment to the city and everyone who made the mistake of supporting him.
We need ethical leadership that shows integrity and respects the long term interests of our city.
Welch is none of those things.
Jonathan Ginsberg
August 12, 2025at5:51 am
My take: The original deal was great – the city leveraged funds from the county and the private sector to build a new neighborhood – with thousands of new housing units, hotels, Jin creating and a ball park. The city and county performed – but the private sector – Mr. Sternberg did not.
My theory is that Sternberg was ultimately not financeable – could not get access to loans and then he blamed the hurricanes for his lack of performance.
Mayor Welch is simply stating here, that the city is open for business and his administration is open to a similar framework as before. A completely reasonable and cogent stance to take.
Alan DeLisle
August 12, 2025at3:28 am
Vision. This city needs vision. The original Rays deal was the worst MLB deal ever negotiated and supported. Anyone close to it should be rejected by the voters. And Welch wants to recycle it.
Vision. Demand it!! I worked for four mayors in four different cities and I have never seen a mayor have so little of it in Welch.
JT Maker
August 11, 2025at10:22 pm
Is it really so hard to see why anyone in St. Pete would want downtown to be a regional destination on weekdays? The vocal minority seems nostalgic for the sleepy pre-Rays era. It’s almost comical that their “solution” is to redevelop the land with a convention center—which, by the way, pairs perfectly with a stadium—as if that alone could replace the draw of even the most embarrassing Rays’ Tuesday night crowds. Miami can’t even compete with Orlando for conventions, yet somehow St. Pete will? These naysayers are quite literally cutting off their nose to spite their face.
Bob Harmon
August 11, 2025at8:41 pm
Kris, it would go well with the Savannah Bananas-like City Council we already have!
Kris Self
August 11, 2025at6:20 pm
We need a Savanna Bananas team
Mona Hawkins
August 11, 2025at4:49 pm
Oh, please! Will you just. give. it. up! The majority of this city doe NOT want to spend another penny on the Rays!
Ryan Todd
August 11, 2025at4:27 pm
Enough of this incompetent man’s drivel.
Hal Freedman
August 11, 2025at3:45 pm
I supported Mayor Welch, even co-hosting a campaign event for him. He has disappointed me again & again…Albert Whitted, Moffitt, the Trop, the Municipal Services Building, etc. However, on the Trop/Rays deal, he is completely tone deaf. Mayor, please read the room and let sleeping dogs lie.. There are so many more important issues to address in our beautiful city..storm water, flood control, roads, utilities… The make-up of both the County Commission and the City Council have changed to your disadvantage. If you had the nerve to put the deal you are considering on the ballot, it would lose handily. It was an awful deal for the City then, and wouldn’t be much better now. Let the Rays go to Tampa. It’s win-win, but you won’t get your name on a plaque.
Robert Marro
August 11, 2025at3:04 pm
Sounds like this was more about Welch’ ego than what was good for the City.