Rays ownership wants a new venue while Bucs ownership wants a renovated facility.
How much money do Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida politicians have to build a Major League Baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays’ ownership group and a stadium renovation for the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers ownership? Right now, no money has been committed but Rays ownership wants more than a billion dollars from the public as seed money to build a Tampa baseball stadium-village while Buccaneers ownership wants more than a billion dollars to renovate the 28-year-old Tampa football venue. The CEO of the Rays franchise Ken Babby sent an email to Hillsborough County commissioners the message “time and action are of the essence”. The Rays principal owner Patrick Zalupski wants a money deal between his group and various layers of government finalized by June 1st. If that does not happen, Rays ownership will “evaluate alternatives”.
What could “alternatives” mean? It probably doesn’t include returning to talk to St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, Florida politicians looking to build a baseball venue in the parking lot of the Rays’ franchise’s present St. Petersburg stadium. The former Rays’ ownership had a deal to build a St. Petersburg stadium that fell through. There are people in Orlando who are seeking a Major League Baseball franchise. The Rays’ ownership has a deal with the city of St. Petersburg to use the St. Petersburg facility through 2028. Rays ownership wants the public money by June 1st so it can begin construction in Tampa with a 2029 opening. Meanwhile the Glazier family want a stadium upgrade which would allow them to host the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff national championship game in the future. Is there more than two billion dollars available for a new baseball park and a renovated football venue in Tampa? Costly deals have to be negotiated and the public’s appetite to spend on venues may not be there for the owners.
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