The future of Major League Baseball in St. Petersburg remains uncertain following a letter from Tampa Bay Rays President Matt Silverman to Kathleen Peters, Chair of the Pinellas County Commission.
Silverman was responding to Peters’ request for clarification on the Rays’ intentions after St. Petersburg officials asked the team for a termination letter. This request came in light of comments made by Rays Co-President Brian Auld regarding the infeasibility of the current deal.
Despite these concerns, Silverman and the Rays have stated that they will not withdraw from a funding agreement to construct a new $1.3 billion stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. This development could allow the team to retain its rights to valuable downtown property.
According to Tampa Business Journal, if the Rays terminated the stadium funding deal, the team would also lose the development rights to the 86 acres surrounding Tropicana Field.
Vince Nowicki, a newly elected county commissioner, said he will not vote to fund the new stadium unless the agreement is modified. Nowicki, who did not sign the previous contract, emphasized that elections have consequences and that changes to the deal are necessary.
“There is a contract on the table,” Nowicki said. “I think we can make a few amendments, cross out a few different things, add a few different lines here and there and get it done.”
WFLA reported that Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala was one of only two commissioners who voted against the original agreement. He expressed that he still has concerns about the deal in its current form. Pinellas County leaders were frustrated when the Rays chose George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa as their temporary home while Tropicana Field undergoes roof repairs. The roof was severely damaged during two hurricanes this past summer.
“Their owner can sell the team and keep the land development rights,” Latvala said. “He can move the team and keep the land development rights.” Latvala said he believes a new agreement can be worked out that will be better for the taxpayers and keep the team in town. “I think the Rays do not want to be the party that terminates the agreement because their number one interest, I believe, has always been the land development deal around the trop in which they will reap hundreds of millions of dollars in profit.”
The Pinellas County Commission and St. Petersburg City Council must approve the sale of bonds for the current agreement to proceed.
Nowicki said he would also like to see a new deal worked out.
“I would love to see the St. Pete City Council, the County Commission, Rays ownership, Heinz Development, all get in a room and lock us in there until we can come out with a signed agreement,” Nowicki said.
