In some quarters, the Tampa Bay Rays are being criticized for not publicly responding to that high-profile, stadium-agenda letter the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce sent to Mayor Bill Foster. Well, this isn’t one of those quarters.
The Chamber advised that the construction of a new (retractable-roof) Rays’ facility could (conceivably) begin by 2017 — with the provision that the Rays remain within city limits. But should the Rays want to position themselves somewhere else in St. Pete other than downtown, the Chamber would understand — but would then want the Rays to bring back spring training from its current venue in Charlotte County.
Just a guess, but here’s a reason why the Rays’ haven’t immediately responded to this stadium-negotiations “kick start” missive, as it was termed by Chamber President John Long.
A much nicer, potentially more revenue-stream friendly facility in a geographically and demographically bad part of this non-traditional, asymmetrical market is still nothing to write home about.
And as for spring training, the Rays signed a 20-year agreement with Charlotte County two years ago. That was the quid-pro-quo for Rays-wooing Charlotte spending about $20 million in public money on a renovated stadium.
How ironic that St. Pete has often taken umbrage at any intimation that the Rays won’t be around for the entirety of their Trop lease, one that expires in 2027. But it has the civic chutzpah to suggest a bail-out scenario with Charlotte County.
The Rays no comment to these self-serving, parochial overtures speaks volumes.