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Tag: Rays Stadium

  • St. Pete leaders say Tropicana Field roof installation is complete

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Crews with the city have completed the installation of the final roof panel on Tropicana Field Stadium, with city leaders saying the work was done ahead of schedule.


    The roof was damaged by Hurricane Milton last October.

    All stadium repairs, including inside, are currently scheduled to be complete by April 2026.

    “This project was a massive undertaking, but we have an outstanding team working on it and making sure we’re prepared for opening day. We look forward to completing the remaining repairs and welcoming fans back for the 2026 season,” said Mayor Ken Welch.

    Internal repairs will include projects like turf installation, audio visual repairs and replacement, sports lighting and more.

    City Council has approved a total of about $60 million for Tropicana Field remediation and repair expenses.

    A timeline of Tropicana Field stadium repairs is below:

    • July 2025 – Mobilization for roof replacement
    • August 2025 – Roof replacement begins
    • November 2025 – Roof replacement complete; interior repairs begin
    • December 2025 – Audio system installation begins, backstop netting and outfield wall padding installation, interior repairs continue
    • January 2026 – Turf installation, interior repairs continue
    • March 2026 – Substantial completion

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • St. Pete City Council weighs-in on mayor’s Gas Plant strategy

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg City Council members talked publicly for the first time about Mayor Kenneth Welch’s redevelopment strategy for the Historic Gas Plant District at their Thursday meeting, and a majority were critical.

    What You Need To Know

    • At their meeting on Thursday, five out of eight St. Petersburg City Council members were critical of the mayor’s Gas Plant strategy

    • Those five members said they want to see an RFP and master plan developed first 

    • Two city council members backed Mayor Kenneth Welch’s strategy 

    • On Wednesday, Welch extended the proposal window to begin in January, instead of mid-November


    “Community conversations and priorities do not equal planning,” said council member Lisset Hanewicz. “I think we need a longer period, and it is once in a generation.”

    Under pressure from the community, Welch sent a memo to the City Council on Wednesday, stating he was extending the city’s deadline for the proposal window to open in January, instead of mid-November.

    “That will constitute 105 days since our Oct. 21 announcement,” he said. “I do not believe reissuing an RFP is necessary or beneficial. Our priorities, expressed in 23 Guiding Principles of the 2022 RFP have not changed.”

    Welch said those priorities include jobs, housing, equitable economic development resilience, green space and meaningful recognition of the HGPD community.

    “Our goal remains a redevelopment process that is actionable, inclusive, and true to the commitments made to the Historic Gas Plant District,” he said. “I look forward to continuing this work with Council to ensure the outcome reflects our shared values.”

    Council member Corey Givens said he wants to see a master plan developed from an Urban Land Institute study first, and believes the extension is still not enough time to get everything done.

    “I think it is unwise for us to rush this. We need more time,” he said. “I still don’t think 100-plus days is ample. I would like to see more.”

    Council member Brandi Gabbard also said there should be a longer timeline before more proposals start flowing in.

    “I don’t understand this rush for a quick win right now,” she said. “I recognize there are particular pieces of this property that we want to move forward, but I don’t necessarily believe that we need a master plan developer to even do that.”

    Council member Gina Driscoll said she would like to see a new request for proposals opened up for the 86-acre site.

    “I feel much more comfortable with an RFP process,” she said. “Just to be really blunt, I think if we’re going to be serious about this, start counting votes now. If I’m not comfortable with the process, I’m probably not going to be comfortable with the proposal that’s brought forward for us to vote on.”

    Council member Richie Floyd, who put the RFP issue on the agenda and sparked the conversation amongst council members, said he wants to see a plan before opening the proposal window.

    “I assume you heard us express concern with how we’re going about it,” he said. “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to evaluate whatever gets in front of me, but I might. It’s just harder to come to terms with something when you don’t like how you got to something.”

    The only two council members who publicly backed Welch’s approach were Deborah Figgs-Sanders and Mike Harting.

    “I just really want to see the Gas Plant descendants not be pushed in the back,” she said. “To me, we’re still losing the focus on why it’s called the Gas Plant project.”

    Harting said he agrees that there’s no need for a new RFP, and he was glad the mayor extended the proposal window.

    “I’m OK with the process the administration has set forward,” he said. “I do appreciate the mayor looking at a longer time frame.”

    Chair Copley Gerdes was the only council member who did not weigh in on the topic.

    The proposal window was triggered by two unsolicited bids the city has already received. The five council members critical of Welch’s approach also said an appraisal should have been done before the proposal window opens.

    City Development Administrator James Corbett said the city would not negotiate a sale for the land without the appraisal first.

    “By the time we get the appraisal, it would likely be in January or in February,” he said. “I also want to make sure that we time the appraisal where it’s not too dated.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • Fans hope for answers on ballpark plans from new Rays owners

    TAMPA, Fla. — There’s more questions than answers surrounding the future of the Tampa Bay Rays, but fans hope that ends when the Rays new ownership group speaks Tuesday for the first time since sealing the deal.

    Tampa Bay Rays Managing Partner and Co-Chair Patrick Zalupski, Co-Chair Bill Cosgrove, and Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby plan to speak at a news conference set for 11:30 a.m. at Steinbrenner Field.

    Zalupski and his team are expected to field questions regarding plans for a new stadium, how much they plan to invest in a new stadium, and how much they plan to invest into the team itself.

    The Rays lease with the city of St. Pete to play at Tropicana Field runs through 2028.

    The Rays are scheduled to return to the hurricane-damaged Trop for opening day of the 2026 season, should the brand new roof and extensive repairs be completed by early April. After that, it’s unclear where the new ownership group plans to build a new ballpark.

    Possible locations still include the Tropicana Field site in St. Pete, a location in Tampa, or somewhere else altogether. Nothing has been publicly ruled out by the Rays new owners.

    “It’s great having football, baseball, and hockey in Tampa and to see baseball leave would just be really disappointing,” said fan Jennifer Adams. “We’ve built a really good following and I think it’s just good for the market.”

    Roof repairs continue at Tropicana Field, with a goal of it being ready for the 2026 regular season. (Sky 9)

    Other questions Zalupski and his team are expected to be faced with Tuesday include how much they plan to invest into the stadium and the team itself. The former ballpark deal negotiated by past-owner Stu Sternberg included getting $600 million from Pinellas County and the city of St. Pete to go toward a $1.2 billion ballpark.

    That deal fell apart after Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off Tropicana Field and a series of delayed votes within county and city government.

    “Hopefully the group that purchased them puts some money into the team,” said baseball fan Shawn Molnar. “It’s good for the Tampa Bay area and the economy.”

    The news conference is set for 11:30 a.m. You can watch it live on Spectrum Bay News 9 on-air, online or the Spectrum News app.

    Angie Angers

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  • St. Pete city council votes to approve funding for new Tropicana Field roof

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Petersburg City Council has approved funding to fix the hurricane-damaged roof at Tropicana Field.

    The council voted 7-1 to approve $22.5 million in funding to repair the stadium’s torn-off roof. Councilman Richie Floyd was the lone no vote.

    The city was contractually obligated to make repairs to the facility.

    The council will still have to vote on additional repairs to walls, panels, tiles and electronics inside the stadium.

    What You Need To Know

    • City council approves funding for Tropicana Field roof fix 
    • Tropicana Field roof replacement will cost $22.5 million

    • Crews continue to clean water following rainstorms inside of Tropicana Field

    • Thursday’s vote expected to be first of several regarding repair funding 

    • INSIDE LOOK: Spectrum Bay News 9 inside the damaged ballpark


    Officials said repair work on the roof is expected to begin in June.

    Floyd had questions as to what the legal ramifications would be if the city didn’t replace the roof, but ultimately, they are under contract with the Rays to get the Trop back up and running.

    “The administration stated that it just wasn’t financially responsible for us to come to a settlement with the Rays but they never showed us the numbers that that they had talked about that led them to that decision,” Floyd said. “I didn’t feel it was my responsibility to just say ‘oh I just trust you.’

    “I need to see the numbers for myself to be able to come to that conclusion as well and they may very well be right and if that is the case I’d be happy to go along with them.”

    City officials did express concerns about a timetable and additional costs on repair work. The new roof materials are fabricated in Germany and assembled in China, bringing up tariff concerns.

    However, the council said contractors said they can complete the work in time for the Rays to play their 2026 season back at the Trop.  

    VENDERS EXPRESS OPTIMISM FOR RAYS FIX

    St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch confirmed shortly after the roof was ripped off the ballpark during Hurricane Milton that the city was contractually obligated to fix it. Thursday’s vote is set to be the first in a handful of funding votes where the city is asking council members to formally approve the fixes needed for the Rays to return to the Trop.

    While the Rays backed out of the new ballpark plans, co-owner Stu Sternberg stated last month that the Rays intend to return to Tropicana Field for Opening Day of 2026.

    Tanner Loebel, co-owner of Pacific Counter in downtown St. Pete, is also hoping to return to the Trop next spring.

    He and two partners opened the fresh sushi and poke bowl restaurant’s first location in 2018 and soon after had the opportunity to open up a shop inside the ballpark concourse.

    “We had a steady staff that worked there, some of them who had worked there all six years,” he said.

    Loebel said their tenure at Tropicana Field started in 2019 with their initial food stand in the First Base Food Hall. Soon after, they were offered the prime spot on the Center Field Porch.

     


    That location proved unlucky during Hurricane Milton, as Loebel said during a tour he received of the damage he learned his shop was one of the hardest hit spots in the entire ballpark.

     

    “Unfortunately we have to replace all of our equipment and all of our signage because it’s all gone,” he said.

    Loebel said he tried to get Pacific Counter into Steinbrenner Field for this season, but there are fewer spots for vendors and the logistics on a one-year deal didn’t pan out. He says he just signed a five-year contract last year that would take them through the Trop’s last season, and that contract was extended for an additional year to coincide with the Rays’ lease.

    One of the best parts of their Tropicana Field shop, he says, is the exposure they get that drives customers to their Central Avenue location during the off season.

    Loebel’s hope is the roof can get repaired and they can take their spot in center field once again while the Rays return home to the Trop for Opening Day 2026.

    “Obviously we hold out hope for a brand new St. Pete stadium one day… but we’ll take it one thing at a time right now,” he said.

    Thursday’s vote is expected to be the first in a series of votes related to repair funding for Tropicana Field.

    Angie Angers, Fallon Silcox

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  • A look inside Tropicana Field as council gets ready to vote on repairs

    TAMPA, Fla. — As the Rays settle into their temporary Tampa home, the baseball diamond in St. Pete is only an outline.

    What You Need To Know

    •  St. Petersburg City Council will meet Thursday to discuss replace roof of Trop.

    •  Tropicana Field roof replacement will cost $22.5 million

    •  City leaders said environmental experts have tested and there are no “mold issues” inside the Trop.

    • City leaders said all of the major issues at the Trop have been identified.


    What was once turf is now concrete.

    Piping on the ground helps to drain the water when it rains. When you look up, all you see is metal and sky.

    (Spectrum News/Eddie Jackson)

    City of St. Petersburg City Architect Raul Quintana said, for $22.5 million, the roof can be replaced using tensile fabric. It’s the same sort of material that was ripped off of the Trop.

    “It’s the same material, but it’s designed to today’s codes,” said Quintana. “So it’s a much stronger material. It’s thicker than what it was. So it’s designed to the wind loads today that far exceed the wind loads we had in 1995.”

    Quintana said Major League Baseball had certain concerns they wanted addressed: the lighting, the acoustics and the ability to track a baseball. Quintana said they’ve checked all the boxes with their proposal.

    But the material would be made and assembled overseas.

    “The material is fabricated in Germany, then it’s shipped to China where it is assembled and those bundles are going to be sent in groups to the city,” Quintana said.

    With President Trump’s talk of tariffs, Quintana said the price could go up, but they believe the funding proposal would cover that possibility.

    If approved by the city council, the work would get underway during the 2025 hurricane season. The council is meeting Thursday to vote on funding the repairs.

    “We’re going to be putting this back in the heaviest storm period of the year, between August and November, so what we’ve done is try to protect the area behind the seating from the eventuality of rain still happening through the summer,” said Quintana.

    (Spectrum News/Eddie Jackson)

    (Spectrum News/Eddie Jackson)

    City of St. Petersburg City Development Administration Managing Director Beth Herendeen said there are no mold issues in the building.

    “We have had environmental people come out multiple times,” Herendeen said. “They do testing, air testing, so no mold issue.”

    But she said there are still areas with water intrusion, and they have removed drywall, carpeting and ceiling tiles.

    All of which will need to be replaced, and means even more money to request.

    “Every little piece of the puzzle is being looked at very carefully,” Herendeen said.

    It’s an enormous undertaking during the Rays 2025 baseball season.

    The roof repairs are one of several packages that Mayor Ken Welch’s administration will request from the city council. They will also need funding for metal panels, sports lighting, audio/visual and architectural work.

    And while city leaders acknowledge there are no guarantees, they believe it’s doable to get fans back in the seats at the Trop by next spring.

    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • City officials giving look inside Tropicana Field on Wednesday

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — City officials are giving media members a first look inside of Tropicana Field on Wednesday.

    Officials are set to give an update on repairs to the Trop ahead of Thursday’s city council vote on stadium repairs.

    What You Need To Know

    • Officials are set to give an update on repairs to the Trop ahead of Thursday’s city council vote on stadium repairs

    • Includes a look inside the Trop for media members 

    • Repairs to fix Tropicana Field are expected to cost the city just over $22 million

    To date, the repairs to fix Tropicana Field are expected to cost the city just over $22 million.

    The stadium’s roof was heavily damaged during Hurricane Milton.

    The Rays still plan on playing at their St. Pete home in 2026 after this season playing home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

    The city of St. Pete is contractually obligated to fix the Trop, with the agreement between the city and team calling for St. Pete to “diligently pursue” repairs to make the dome suitable for home games again.

    Thursday’s vote is on funding those repairs.

    The vote was originally scheduled for last week but pushed to April 3.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Lawmaker to ask for reimbursement as Rays stadium deal expires

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — At the end of day Monday, the stadium deal between the city of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays officially expires.

    Monday is the deadline that was set for the Rays to meet certain financial requirements as part of the stadium agreement deal that was to anchor downtown’s redevelopment of the historic Gas Plant area.


    If they don’t send a letter ending the deal, it will terminate automatically.

    And once that happens, Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala is planning to ask the team to reimburse the county for expenses in regards to work preparing the deal.

    Latvala said he’s asked the county to prepare a letter to send to the Rays, since they publicly said they had the funds for the deal.

    Earlier this month, the team put out a statement saying they could not move forward with the deal.

    When asked about the county’s plan to ask for reimbursement, St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch told Spectrum Bay News 9’s partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times that the idea “has merit.”

    Welch has repeatedly said he still plans on redeveloping the Gas Plant District around Tropicana Field in some way.


     

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Citing ‘unintended response,’ Mayor rescinds bonuses given after Rays deal

    Citing ‘unintended response,’ Mayor rescinds bonuses given after Rays deal

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mayor Ken Welch is rescinding bonuses awarded to city employees who negotiated the Gas Plant redevelopment deal for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

    Seventeen employees received bonuses that totaled $250,000.

    The mayor talked about an “unintended response” that was behind his decision to take back the bonuses.

    He said the original intention was to recognize the hard work of their employees.

    “I am concerned about the alignment of this process with our governing principles, and the unintended response the payments have garnered. I have, therefore, decided to rescind the bonuses.

    The employees were notified of the decision Monday.

    Welch said some of the volunteers had offered to return their bonus.

    Bay News 9

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  • With a sense of relief, now the work of creating a new stadium lies ahead

    With a sense of relief, now the work of creating a new stadium lies ahead

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Now that the Rays ballpark and Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment have been approved, what comes next?

    Pinellas County commissioners gave the final stamp of approval on the stadium deal, voting 5-2 in favor of the project and the county agreeing to contribute $313 million through a bed tax, or tourist tax, to the $1.3 billion project.

    This follows the City of St. Petersburg’s support as well, after they approved their portion of the project earlier in July.


    At a news conference Wednesday morning, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch thanked members of the Rays, the development county Hines and members of his staff he said worked tirelessly on the deal.

    Now, the decades-long odyssey to create a permanent home for the Rays is finally done and visible proof and progress of the deal will follow in the coming months.

    Finishing the bond process for project funding, along with completing the design and permitting process will be next up, Welch said.

    Rays President Matt Silverman said construction on the ballpark will begin in January, with a groundbreaking coming in the second or third week of the new year.

    “It hasn’t sunk in,” Silverman said of the completed deal. “Just walking in the building this morning, there’s a sense of relief but more so euphoria.”

    The new stadium will be built just east of Tropicana Field, in the current stadium parking lot.

    The ballpark alone will cost $1.3 billion.

    About $700 million will come from the Rays, with an additional $287 million from the city and the final $313 million from the county. The county’s portion will come from the tourism bed tax.

    The surrounding Historic Gas Plant redevelopment, including retail and office space, hotel rooms, housing, green space and a museum will rise around the stadium over the next two decades. The full project totals 86-acres and ultimately will cost $6.5 billion.

    “Having worked with the Rays for almost 20 years now, Hines is committed to this public/private partnership with the Rays, city and the county,” said Lane Gardner, Hines’ Managing Partner.

    Gardner added Hines’ goals with the project include:

    • Honoring the Gas Plant District
    • Creating well-paying jobs and careers
    • Creating new spaces for the local community and business owners
    • And attracting visitors from the Tampa Bay region and beyond

    Members of the development team, as well as Rays officials and local lawmakers said the collective sigh of relief will now be replaced by a sense of purpose and plenty of work.

    “This project with the city and county and organization that we’ve been working on so long is going to become a reality,” Silverman said. “It means the team is here to stay.”

    Rod Gipson

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  • Pinellas County commissioners agree, by 5-2 vote, to help fund new Rays stadium

    Pinellas County commissioners agree, by 5-2 vote, to help fund new Rays stadium

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — After years of discourse, studies and votes, the Tampa Bay Rays will have funding for a new baseball stadium from Pinellas County.

    This comes after the Pinellas County commissioners on Tuesday approved their portion of the funding that will go toward building a new ballpark in the Gas Plant District.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County commissioners approved its share of the funding for a new 30,000-seat stadium to host the Tampa Bay Rays

    • The deal will guarantee the team stays put for at least 30 years.

    • The $1.3 billion ballpark is part of a broader $6.5 billion redevelopment project that supporters say would transform an 86-acre tract in the city’s downtown

    The vote was 5-2 in favor of the deal that has sparked conversations and debate for months among economic leaders and residents in Pinellas County, with many of them coming to Tuesday afternoon’s meeting to discuss their stance on the project.

    Commissioners Kathleen Peters, Brian Scott, Janet Long, Rene Flowers and Charlie Justice voted in favor of the deal. Dave Eggers and Chris Latvala voted against.

    Public comment went on for over an hour, with a stark divide between people speaking to the commission.

    With the approval, the county will contribute roughly $313 million through a bed tax, or tourist tax, to the $1.3 billion project. This follows the City of St. Petersburg’s support as well, after they approved their portion of the project earlier in July.

    “You wanna pinch me?” St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch asked, laughing.

    “Feels great. We’ve been working on this for a very long time,” said Tampa Bay Rays Co-President Brian Auld.

    Commissioners who voted in favor of the contribution said it was an opportunity the county couldn’t pass up.

    “I think this is a great day,” said Peters, the board’s chair.

    “We’re talking about 30 years of true economic impact in a community that has not necessarily received all of the benefits of some of the growth and development that has occurred around the community,” said Flowers.

    “The Rays are part of the fabric of not only St. Pete, Pinellas County, but also the Tampa Bay region,” said Scott. 

    A frequent criticism St. Petersburg City Council members heard in the lead-up to their votes on funding the project — the city’s share is $417.5 million — was that public money could be better spent on other issues important to residents, like affordable housing. Commissioners said that wasn’t a possibility in the case of the bed tax.

    “That money is so restricted that we can only use it for tourism things, but the money generated from this development will generate unrestricted dollars that will allow us to use it for law enforcement, for roads, for bridges,” said Peters.

    Not all members were as optimistic about the project.

    “Our taxpayers deserved a better deal,” Latvala said.

    He told Spectrum News while the board’s focus Tuesday was the bed tax; he has concerns about the overall project.

    “I had a lot of concerns – not just with how much money that we would be spending, which, if we finance it over 30 years, that’s going to be over $600 million, but also the redevelopment part and what the Rays can do with all of that land and the fact that they’re getting it for a couple hundred million dollars less than it’s appraised for,” Latvala said.

    According to the city of St. Petersburg, the redevelopment is expected to bring in $6 billion in investment and will be the largest development in Tampa Bay history. The plan also secures a new home for the Rays, whose lease at the Trop expires in 2007.

    “We’ve been committed, and no one more so than Stuart Sternberg, I’ll add, to figuring out a way to keep the Rays in Tampa Bay for a very long time,” said Auld. “As a St. Petersburg resident myself, I’m thrilled that we’ve landed in St. Petersburg, and I’m thrilled that we’ve landed at the exact site where we began this entire journey.”

    Construction is expected to begin next year.

    Nick Popham

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  • Final vote in Rays stadium deal could happen Tuesday

    Final vote in Rays stadium deal could happen Tuesday

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The last and final vote regarding a new St. Pete ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays is scheduled for Tuesday.

    In order to make the plans for a new stadium and redevelopment of the adjacent Historic Gas Plant District a reality, four of seven county commissioners must vote in favor of the deal. Pinellas County is being asked to contribute just shy of $313 million in bed tax dollars to the stadium. 

    During a workshop session last week among county commissioners, county and city staff, and St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch, a couple of county commissioners expressed concerns about the plans.

    District 4 commissioner Dave Eggers brought up questions over how the Rays stadium deal could impact future beach renourishment projects.

    “How vulnerable does this leave us in the event of something that’s not normal from a beach renourishment standpoint?” he said. “I’m talking about storm generated or emergencies that come up.”

    He also expressed concerns over the city selling the land below appraised value and what would happen should Rays ownership change hands. Eggers told commissioners if he felt rushed to vote on Tuesday, he would be a ‘no’ vote.

    “I don’t want to be rushed. I don’t think we need to be rushed… this is our time to make sure that we are clear about what the ramifications of what the stadium deal are,” he said.

    Following the workshop, Mayor Welch said he felt county commissioners voicing their concerns is all part of the process and he remained confident the vote would pass.

    “We’re shooting for a unanimous vote because this makes so much sense for our county and our city moving forward… in terms of economic benefit and keeping the Rays here,” he said. 

    The Pinellas County commission meeting is scheduled to begin a 2 p.m. in the Palm Room located at 333 Chestnut Street in Clearwater.

    A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Residents who want their voices heard ahead of the final vote will have the opportunity to speak during the public comment session.

    To follow along in real time, the county meeting will be broadcast on Spectrum Channel 637.

    It also will be streamed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakmugpSeqsZbfF5P5P90Dg and on the Pinellas County website at https://pinellas.gov/live-webcast-meetings/.

    Angie Angers

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  • Pinellas commissioners discuss Rays stadium ahead of vote

    Pinellas commissioners discuss Rays stadium ahead of vote

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County commissioners met to discuss the $1.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays stadium in a workshop on Thursday ahead of vote scheduled for July 30. 

    The county was asked to spend $312.5 million from the Tourist Development Tax fund to help pay for the new stadium.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County Commissioners held workshop Thursday to discuss the $1.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays stadium ahead of vote scheduled for July 30

    • The county was asked to spend $312.5 million from the tourist development tax fund to help pay for the new stadium

    • Commissioners only spent about three hours asking questions and going over plans for the stadium


    Commissioners only spent about three hours asking questions and going over plans for the stadium, which was something that Commission Chair, Kathleen Peters said was surprising. But during that time, some crucial questions came up that still need to be answered before some commissioners said they would feel comfortable voting in favor of the plan.

    “We currently have a stadium, an old stadium, and a parking lot, but this would be a $6.5 billion — probably the largest economic development project ever built in Pinellas County,” said  Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton, as he opened the discussion at Thursday’s County Commission workshop.

    With nearly $312.5 million potentially coming from Pinellas County, it’s a decision commissioners said the weren’t taking lightly. 

    “If I felt rushed today for this vote on Tuesday, I’m a no,” said Commissioner Dave Eggers.

    Eggers said even after Thursday’s meeting, he still had concerns about the county using its bed-tax money for the stadium, and how the expenditure would impact other projects, like beach renourishment.

    “It is enough for me to truly vote no on it,” he said. “I think there’s a real issue here with opportunity availability for use of the funds we’re putting into the project. I understand the benefits of the project — I’ve heard them, I’ve gone through them, but we have a different responsibility to make sure it’s fair.”

    St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said he understood commissioners having questions about the project, because it was a lengthy process for city council members to get to the point they were ready to vote. But ultimately, he said he’s not worried.

    “The first time we had a committee of the whole, there were a ton of questions,” Welch said. “We took those questions one by one — you saw a lot of those end up in the ultimate agreements. I foresee the same process happening here.”

    Pinellas County commissioners are set to take the $312.5 million vote on July 30, with four of the seven required to vote in favor of it for the measure to pass.

    Eggers said that while he’s just one vote, he needs more information before he can vote to approve the plan.

    “If I feel like this is being pushed through on Tuesday, I’ll vote no,” he said. “Even if I might be in favor of it, let’s not rush this deal. On the other hand, if we come together on Tuesday and have the questions answered that we have asked, and have opportunity to have further dialog, um, yeah we can probably have a vote on Tuesday.”

    Fallon Silcox

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  • Pinellas County commissioners take up Rays ballpark plans ahead of final vote

    Pinellas County commissioners take up Rays ballpark plans ahead of final vote

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County Commissioners will meet Thursday to discuss plans to contribute nearly $313 million towards a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.

    This is the last vote needed to approve a new $1.3 billion ballpark and the surrounding redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. As of Thursday morning, the vote is scheduled for July 30 following a public hearing.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Rays are asking for nearly $313 million from the Tourist Development Tax fund to help pay for the ballpark 

    • Four out of seven county commissioners must vote in favor for the plans to pass 

    •  Public hearing and final vote scheduled for July 30 

    • PDF: Hines + Tampa Bay Rays Stadium Presentation


    Thursday’s work session will not have a public comment session and is a chance for county commissioners to ask questions about the proposed plans. The proposal needs four out of seven votes in order to pass.

    Ahead of the work session, Spectrum Bay News 9 asked each of the seven county commissioners their stance on the deal. Three commissioners said they support — or are leaning towards supporting the project, two said they have some questions that need answering, and two would not comment publicly ahead of the vote.

    Last week, the St. Pete City Council in a 5-3 vote approved spending $429.5 million on the 65-acre project by taking out bonds and using tax increment funding.

     


    Pinellas County’s contribution would come from tourist development tax dollars, or bed tax money. Real estate lawyer Charles Gallagher called the county approval process a bit of a smoother path.

     

    “The bed tax is a perfectly reasonable use of those funds,” he said. “All these folks coming down to hotels and resorts and paying taxes for the nights … that’s where that money comes from. In some respect it’s found money because it has to go towards tourism anyways.”

    Dylan Dames with the non-profit Faith in Florida feels the current agreement will not do enough for residents who need an affordable place to live.

    “I think a lot of people were disappointed with the size of the handout being given to a private entity during one of the most tough times for housing and development,” he said.

    Dames is closely watching to see how commissioners vote, but is staying optimistic.

    “It’s not over until the deal is signed, until the deal is closed on the land sale,” he said.

    Thursday’s work session will be streamed on YouTube at  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakmugpSeqsZbfF5P5P90Dg and on the Pinellas County website at https://pinellas.gov/live-webcast-meetings/. It is also available on Spectrum Channel 637.

    Angie Angers

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  • With 5-3 vote, St. Pete City Council approves Rays stadium deal project

    With 5-3 vote, St. Pete City Council approves Rays stadium deal project

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council voted 5-3 Thursday to approve plans for a new ballpark and redevelopment of the surrounding Historic Gas Plant district.

    The vote, which largely determines the future of the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, happened shortly before 4 p.m. The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since their debut season in 1998.

    “This is not an easy vote, but this is the right thing for the city of St. Petersburg, for Pinellas County, for our region,” said Councilman Ed Montanari.

    The city agreed to spend nearly $430 million over the length of the deal and sell 65 acres of public land to the Rays. The total cost of the redevelopment project is roughly $6.5 billion, which includes the $1.3 billion ballpark.

    The project will still need approval from the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners. Pinellas County is being asked to contribute $313 million in tourism tax. That vote is scheduled for July 30.


    Council members Copley Gerdes, Brandi Gabbard, Montanari, Deborah Figgs-Sanders and Gina Driscoll voted in favor.

    Mayor Ken Welch added, “This process worked, and it’s something we can be proud of.”

    He later said at a news conference, “Today is a major milestone in a 40-year journey.”

    In a prepared statement, Tampa Bay Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg, said:  “Thursday’s St. Petersburg City Council approvals of the Historic Gas Plant District Development and a new ballpark for the Rays is a significant milestone for our city, Pinellas County and the entire Tampa Bay region — and for the Rays and our fans.”

    Thursday’s St. Pete City Council vote was one officials with the Rays had been preparing for for more than a year. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Eddie Jackson)

    He added: “We look forward to working with our Pinellas County partners on the next and final step in the process to secure the future of the Rays for generations to come.”

    City council members had voted 5-3 in favor of the new ballpark and redevelopment plans during a preliminary vote in June.

    At that time, council members Lisset Hanewicz, Richie Floyd, and John Muhammad voted against the deal and raised concerns over the finances and speed in which the process was taking place.

    While the vote didn’t hold any weight, it gave the development team a chance to address council members’ concerns ahead of Thursday’s final vote.

    Hanewicz, Floyd and Muhammad also cast no votes on Thursday.

    “Under the current terms, in my opinion, we’re giving far too much public money with too few concrete obligations and city council oversight,” Hanewicz said. “I want the Rays to stay, but I can’t vote for this deal.”

    Concern over possible graves 

    One of the major concerns the community has with the Gas Plant district development is about the possible graves that may still be there.

    On Thursday, a company scanned the area using ground penetrating radar to try to figure out if there are human remains underground.

    Spectrum News Photo

    Spectrum News Photo

    Experts say a parking area for Tropicana Field, along with the area just under the bridge of I-275, was once home to two African American cemeteries and one segregated cemetery.

    The bodies were said to be relocated, but human remains have been discovered over the years during different development projects on the property.

    A memorial to honor those who might still be buried here is part of the proposed plan, but during a meeting this week one council member asked about possible excavation of the property.

    The results of the ground penetrating radar aren’t expected for another couple of months.

    “Here to Stay” event

    On Wednesday, The Tampa Bay Rays and a group of its community partners held a “Here to Stay” press conference and pop-up party in order to drum up support ahead of the vote.

    When asked about his feelings on the impending St. Pete City Council vote, Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg remained positive.

    “I believe that many of them believe in our vision. The questions have been there, he probing has been there. There’s been numerous meetings with many, many, many hours of Committee of the Whole meetings the council has had,” he said. “But it’s not for us to say and not for us to speculate.”

     

    Breakdown of Thursday’s resolutions

     

    Passed – 5-3: A resolution for the 12 agreements that provide the framework necessary to redevelop the current Tropicana Field site, ensuring the continued operations of the Tampa Bay Rays, approximately $6.5 billion of new development, significant job creation and community benefits, and one of the largest economic development projects in the region’s history;

    Passed – 5-3: An ordinance adopting amendments to Intown Redevelopment Plan to increase the Redevelopment Program budget to fund the New Stadium Project and the Historic Gas Plant Redevelopment Infrastructure;

    Passed – 5-3: An ordinance approving the Development Agreement for the Historic Gas Plant District Redevelopment;

    Passed – 5-3: Two resolutions to approve the issuance of bonds to finance the project costs relating to A) the New Stadium project and B) the infrastructure required for the Historic Gas Plant District Redevelopment Plan, and confirm the appointment of special legal counsel for related legal services;

    Passed – 5-3: A resolution acknowledging the selection of Skanksa USA Building Inc. for construction services for the Historic Gas Plant District Redevelopment project, including the new Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Rays host ‘Here to Stay’ event at Tropicana Field today

    Rays host ‘Here to Stay’ event at Tropicana Field today

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The owner of the Tampa Bay Rays, along with city leaders, are drumming up support ahead of Thursday’s vote on redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District.

    The team held a “We’re Here to Stay” press conference this morning.


    Rays’ officials said they wanted to hold this event on the eve of the final St. Pete city council vote to show the support they’ve got and their gratitude.

    The team’s principal owner Stu Sternberg said they’re on the cusp of getting a new ballpark, something the team has been trying to do for nearly 20 years.

    Sternberg acknowledged there were some missteps along the way but said he wants everyone to know the organization is committed to the Tampa Bay region.

    The St. Pete Chamber of Commerce and NAACP showed up in support of the $6.5-billion project.    

    Sternberg said he’s got his fingers crossed about tomorrow’s vote, where the city would spend $429 million and sell 65 acres of public land, to the Rays.

    Sternberg talked about garnering as much support as possible.

    “I would put it on each and every one of you and myself and our staff as well to convert those who have been naysayers to all of this,” Sternberg said. “They don’t have to be rah-rah supporters but you know what, if they can at least take a step back and just accept what we’re trying to do and be a part of it and feel rewarded as opposed to saying ‘I told you so, I told you so’ kind of a thing.

    “That would go a long way.”

    Sternberg did not want to speculate on the vote, which needs five votes to pass.

    During Tuesday’s meeting, city council members asked additional questions about the project. Mayor Ken Welch said he’s optimistic for tomorrow’s vote.

    “A day in St. Pete’s history will look back on it and see this is the next step in a very long journey in almost four decades to really realize the promises of the Historic Gas Plant,” Welch said. “Great feedback from council as many of them said we incorporate a lot of their suggestions, made the agreement stronger.”

    Even though Welch is hoping the deal goes through, there are community members speaking out against it.

    A protest was held last night, where residents voiced their concerns.

    Again, the city council will vote on this plan tomorrow.

    If they approve it, it then goes to Pinellas County commissioners for a vote.

    That is set for July 30.

    Josh Rojas

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  • City council meets ahead of final Tropicana Field redevelopment vote

    City council meets ahead of final Tropicana Field redevelopment vote

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Petersburg city leaders met Tuesday to discuss the latest changes to the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment project.

    It was the last step before the city council takes a final vote on the $6.5 billion project, which would transform Tropicana Field into a major new mixed-use development.


    City officials and the Rays worked to iron out any remaining disagreements during Tuesday’s meeting.

    This was the final opportunity to review all the agreements and learn how council members’ feedback had been incorporated into the redevelopment of 86 acres where Tropicana Field sits now.

    For Mayor Ken Welch, it’s been a long time coming,

    “I think we’ll look back on and see this was the next step in a very long journey,” said Welch. “Almost four decades to really realize the promises of the Historic Gas Plant. Great feedback from council. As many of them said, we incorporated a lot of their suggestions, made the agreement stronger. And I’m ready now to present that to the council for a vote in two days,” Welch said.

    One by one, during the question-and-answer period, council members asked for clarity on a dozen agreements with major changes and additions.

    What followed were several hours of going back and forth between the Welch administration and Rays-Hines.

    “I was really proud of how well our team, in particular our experts, handled some really challenging questions and some really well informed and thoughtful city council people,” Tampa Bay Rays team President Brian Auld said. “I think we put some minds at ease around our intentions regarding things like sustainability, consistency, and our desire to complete all the affordable housing that we intend to. And so I’m optimistic on Thursday, but we’ve been at this a very long time, so we won’t be counting any chickens before they hatch.” 

    Some council members still have big concerns about the numbers, mainly revolving around affordable and workforce housing.

    “My biggest sticking point is, as an advocate and a champion when we talked for years about gentrification, and one of the causes was informing homeowners to not sell grandma’s house. And so, I’m disappointed that we’re in a position now where we’re actually going to be selling, you know, these acres that have historically been owned by the community, by the city, and then selling it at a value that is severely undervalued, in my opinion,” District 7 council member John Muhammad said.

    Still, Muhammad says it’s time for the council to make a decision and move forward.

    A simple majority is needed to pass the proposal, five city council votes, to make this a reality, along with final approval from Pinellas County commissioners.

    Their vote is set for July 30.

    The revised plan now calls for a supermarket and daycare, as well as city council approval of any reductions in the number of affordable housing units.

    Council member Richie Flody expressed disappointment about subsidies and said there are no guarantees.

    “If we’re having to say, ‘OK, we’ve got this amount of money set aside for all these housing deals we’ve entered into through the Historic Gas Plant project,’ does that potentially jeopardize other housing deals that we might have been able to enter into?” he asked.

    Mayor Ken Welch responded by saying, “We plan to do much more with housing. We don’t plan to take our foot off the gas just based on the Historic Gas Plant. There’s a lot more we want to do to find additional resources, find additional partnerships for affordable housing, so I think it’s definitely additive.”

    The city narrowly voted 5-3 in favor of the project during the first vote last month. The final vote is scheduled on Thursday.

    The St. Pete Tenants Union is calling the deal a handout and wants city council members to vote no on the new stadium and redevelopment plans.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Rays select builder for $1-billion stadium project

    Rays select builder for $1-billion stadium project

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have picked a company to build their new billion-dollar ballpark.

    The St. Pete city council still has to approve the project.


    The final vote will take place during the city council meeting on July 18, which is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. The project passed its first hurdle earlier this month with council members voting 5 to 3 to advance the plan. 

    The team selected Minneapolis-based company called Mortenson Construction.

    Mortenson has built several professional sports complexes, including Truist Park, the Braves stadium in Atlanta.

    In addition to sports facilities, the 70-year-old company has experience with public-private partnerships and in the hospitality, higher education, science and technology, advanced manufacturing, and solar/wind/energy storage industries, among others.

    The $1.3 billion project would see St. Petersburg contribute $287 million, while Pinellas County and the Rays would put in $312 million and $770 million, respectively.

    The project is expected to be completed by Opening Day in 2028.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Final vote on Rays stadium pushed back a week

    Final vote on Rays stadium pushed back a week

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Petersburg city council members say they need more time before making a final decision on the Rays new ballpark and the surrounding Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment project.

    City spokesperson Alizza Punzalan-Randle said that a workshop and a final vote on the deal will take place a week later than scheduled so council members can review all the documents related to the development. 


    That workshop is now scheduled for July 16, starting at 9 a.m.

    The final vote will take place during the city council meeting on July 18, which is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.

    The project passed its first hurdle earlier this month with council members voting 5 to 3 to advance the plan. 

    The $1.3 billion project would see St. Petersburg contribute $287 million, while Pinellas County and the Rays would put in $312 million and $770 million, respectively.

    “City, County and Rays staff have worked diligently to complete the multiple agreements related to the development and stadium, and to address questions discussed at previous Committee of the Whole meetings,” Randle wrote in a released message. “Moving the dates is necessary to provide a comprehensive set of agreements for the discussion and vote.”

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Trop and Gas Plant redevelopment plan takes next step forward

    Trop and Gas Plant redevelopment plan takes next step forward

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s a step forward for the redevelopment of Tropicana Field and the Historic Gas Plant District. Thursday night, St. Petersburg City Council members voted 5-3 to schedule the second reading of an ordinance that would approve a development agreement for the site. They also gave the OK for a second reading of an ordinance on rezoning and a public hearing on increasing the Intown Redevelopment Plan’s redevelopment program budget. All are scheduled to take place on July 11.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg City Council approved a number of measures Thursday that move the Rays/Hines deal for the Trop and Gas Plant District redevelopment forward

    • Members could take a final vote on July 11

    • Dozens of residents spoke both for and against the plan at Thursday’s meeting

    • Read previous coverage here

    Before the meeting began, groups including Sierra Club Florida and Faith in Florida held a rally outside city hall, asking the council to “pump the brakes” on making a decision on the plan.

    “It’s ignoring the will of the people,” said Bishop Manuel Sykes, one of those who spoke at the rally.

    Speakers said they weren’t asking council to scrap the Rays/Hines deal, but they do want to see changes made to the plan. Among their concerns were environmental impacts and the project timeline when it comes to features meant for the community, like affordable housing.

    “We’re talking about getting a stadium done in a matter of three years, and everybody else’s concerns may be addressed over the next 27 years,” Sykes said.

    Inside, dozens addressed council during public comment.

    “Fundamentally, this is rotten,” said William Kilgore, an organizer with the St. Petersburg Tenants Union. “This is our money. This is public wealth, and we’re giving it to a private corporation.”

    The $1.3 billion project would see St. Petersburg contribute $287 million, while Pinellas County and the Rays would put in $312 million and $770 million, respectively.

    Supporters told the council the project is the chance to bring new opportunity to the area with mixed use development.

    “That million-and-a-half square feet of office space — if we don’t do this deal, that office space will not come,” said one speaker.

    Others said the deal is the best chance to fulfill past promises made to Gas Plant residents, which was razed to make way for the Trop.

    “If Rays/Hines is not approved, who is going to ensure that the efforts to fulfill those promises are going to be made?” one speaker asked members.

    A sticking point for some council members was that they haven’t received finalized documents on the plan and have been working with drafts.

    “It is our duty to do our due diligence, and we can only do that appropriately with final documents and not being rushed through this process,” said council member Lisset Hanewicz. 

    Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders noted members had previously decided they needed to have final documents two weeks before making a final decision.

    “I’m going to vote for the motion as is, but if we don’t have those documents, we cannot really discuss them on July 11. It’s a given. We voted on that,” said Figgs-Sanders.

    Officials said if members didn’t have final documents two weeks before the July 11 meeting, they could push the items back to July 18.

    Sarah Blazonis

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  • St. Pete city leaders discuss stadium deal ahead of first official votes

    St. Pete city leaders discuss stadium deal ahead of first official votes


    There was no opportunity for public comment, but the city encouraged anyone who would like to watch the discussion to do so online. During the meeting, city council members reviewed the multiple proposed agreements related to the stadium and Gas Plant District and the city’s financial involvement.

    On Thursday, a St. Pete City Council meeting set for 4 p.m. could end with members taking their first official votes on the project. In order to be in favor, five city council members must vote yes. A tie would mean the deal would not move forward as it stands now.

    The agreement states the City of St. Pete would contribute $287.5 million towards the new stadium and an additional $142 million for the surrounding infrastructure. The proposal also states the city would agree to sell public land needed for the project at below appraised value.

    On Wednesday, City Administrator Robert Gerdes talked about his memories of downtown and how that has changed with the Rays.

    “You know, I have been here all my life. I remember what downton was like in the 1980s, I remember what Kenwood was like, I remember what Old North East was like. Now people may say MLB (Major League Baseball) had nothing to do with the renaissance in this city. I’m not so sure about that.”

    In addition to the ballpark, the latest plans from the Rays-Hines development team include 5,400 residential units with roughly 1,250 to be designated as affordable or workforce housing. It also includes a $50 million investment from Rays-Hines for a new Woodson African American History Museum, spots for retail, restaurants, conference centers, offices, and an outdoor space for gatherings.

    Council member Brandi Gabbard shared her concerns about the project and cited hurricane activity in the area.

    “We are a costal community, we see that hurricane season, we have a lot of vulnerabilities around that potential for a major catastrophe to happen in our city,” Gabbard said. “And when you are building an asset of this size, you have to look and see how it could correlate to response.”

    She added, “I have a lot of concern around verbiage that I am not seeing here in this agreement. Specifically there is a lot of glass on this particular (proposed) building, and can you tell me what category that would be rated?”

    Council member Lisset Hanewicz cited feedback from residents.

    “We get questions. And I get questions definitely about whether or not it’s appropriate to put that much money and whether it’s necessary on the public end,” Hanewicz said.

    During a community meeting Tuesday, St. Pete residents voiced their concerns about the makeup of the current plan. Many who attended the meeting felt the deal wasn’t fair to taxpayers, that more attention needs to be paid to infrastructure, and that the needs of those nearby are getting overlooked.

    “I see how this translates into opportunities for business owners, for corporations,” said Brian Peret, president of the Campbell Park Neighborhood Association. “But I don’t see how it translates to small business owners or local individuals or people who make at or below 80% of the AMI and my concern is without significant incentives or requirements to make that happen, it’s not going to happen.”

    Mayor Ken Welch openly backs the plan and during the last meeting on the Gas Plant District in May, stated he feels the proposal strikes a good balance for everyone involved.

    “Having lived this experience I believe the set of agreements that we have developed with input and extensive community engagement are the key to completing this journey in a manner that’s fiscally responsible, equitable, and honors the promises of jobs and inclusive economic opportunity,” he said.

    A formal and final vote on the plan is currently scheduled for July 11. Pinellas County commissioners will have to hold a similar vote on whether to approve their share of the costs. No date has been set for that vote.

    Erin Murray

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