"All eyes" on Rays after Pinellas approves stadium financing
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Commission chair Kathleen Peters speaks to reporters after Tuesday's meeting. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios
Pinellas County commissioners on Tuesday approved bonds to finance their portion of a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium, ending a weekslong stalemate that jeopardized the future of baseball in the region.
Why it matters: The 5-2 vote means that plans to build a $1.3-billion ballpark on the site of Tropicana Field can move forward and shifts pressure from the county to team leaders to hold up their end of the deal.
What they're saying: "We made a decision to let the world know that we're still great, collaborative partners," commission chair Kathleen Peters said.
- "All eyes will now be watching to assure the Rays hold up their part of this deal," commissioner Rene Flowers said.
Between the lines: Rays leaders have said repeatedly that the county's delays in approving the bonds drove the project's costs beyond what the team can afford. They reiterated that in a statement Tuesday.
- "When the County and City (of St. Petersburg) wish to engage, we remain ready to solve this funding gap together," the team said.
Reality check: City and county leaders have both said they wouldn't commit any more taxpayer dollars to the deal beyond what was agreed on over the summer.
- "The onus is on them," Peters told reporters after the vote. "They don't need more taxpayer money."
- Team representatives declined to respond to those remarks.
Roll call: Commissioners Kathleen Peters, Brian Scott, Rene Flowers, Dave Eggers and Chris Latvala voted yes.
- The board's newest members, Vince Nowicki and Chris Scherer, were the no votes.
Yes, but: Even as he voted to approve the bonds, Latvala blasted Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, underscoring the rift that weeks of public bickering have created between the parties.
- "Our fans and residents deserve a new owner for our beloved team," Latvala said. "At the end of the day, Stu Sternberg will always care about his bottom line above all else."
- Team representatives declined to comment.
Catch up quick: Plans for a new stadium and surrounding mixed-use development known as the Historic Gas Plant District looked like a done deal over the summer, but negotiations took a nosedive after the region's back-to-back hurricanes.
- Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off the Trop and caused widespread damage that forced county commissioners to rethink their budget priorities, leading them to delay an October bond vote.
- Then, Pinellas voters last month added two ballpark deal critics to the board, creating a new anti-stadium majority that could upend the entire deal. Commissioners punted the vote again.
Friction point: Those delays added construction costs and pushed back opening day in the new stadium to 2029, effectively killing the deal, Rays leaders have said.
- But they fell short of sending a letter of termination that would formally nix the plans.
What we're watching: It's still unclear how the Rays are going to make up that funding shortfall.
- But several commissioners said they were optimistic the ballpark would come to fruition.
- "We're looking forward to having a great baseball stadium and keeping the Rays here," Peters said.