City presses Rays for answers on new stadium

ST. PETERSBURG — The time for answers related to the Tampa Bay Rays' proposed $450-million waterfront stadium is running out, City Council members emphasized in a meeting with team officials Thursday.

"There are a lot of red signs out there," City Council Chairman Jamie Bennett told Rays president Matt Silverman and senior vice president Michael Kalt.

Bennett and council members laid out a series of fresh questions for the Rays during an afternoon workshop. In the evening, nearly 580 people came to City Hall for an open forum on the stadium issue.

Council members, who have been barraged by arguments from both proponents and opponents, quizzed Rays' executives and city administration officials on terms of the Rays' financing plan.

They picked at parking arrangements and city revenue projections, and sought guarantees related to development.

"A lot of what's portrayed is all you have to do is put it on the referendum and let people decide," said council member Jeff Danner. "We're expected to do a lot more than that. We've got to cover the city's exposure. I don't think we have to put an incomplete or bad proposal on the ballot so that people will have a vote."

Council members face a series of three votes to schedule a possible November referendum, with the first vote June 5. The council must approve the referendum at all three stages for the public vote to move forward. A "no" vote at any point would kill the proposal.

Rays and city administration officials said that leaves about 10 weeks for the city and the team to reach agreements related to financing and parking, if agreements can be reached. The city administration has not taken a side on the proposal.

Speaking to council members Thursday, Rays officials acknowledged that several questions need to be resolved. Council members seemed to be growing impatient.

Opponents speaking at a public hearing Thursday night appeared to significantly outnumber proponents.

"We want this to go forward if the city and the county and the residents want it to happen," Silverman said. "We have the benefit of a couple of months before it needs to be put on the ballot."

Comments on this article

by Stephen	May 27, 2008 4:42 PM
I don't know why people have the impression that something is being shoved down their throats when in the worst case scenario it goes on the referendum and they get to vote. Isn't that the point of democracy? If people don't want it, it won't happe

by Concerned Taxpayer	May 25, 2008 12:25 PM
M Creyton - how do you figure 0 cost to the taxpayer? I've heard nothing 100s of millions of $ from taxpayers. That's what the Glaziers did to scam Hills taxpayers and that's what Rays owners will do to us IF we let them. NO NEW BALLPARK!

by someone	May 25, 2008 12:25 PM
people supporting makes it seem like the rays are suffering. THEY HAVE A BALLPARK! people go to the games to see the other team play. i wish they could fight for gandy atleast that way people in TAMPA can see them save gas.

by juliagill	May 24, 2008 1:53 PM
Fool me once,shame on you.Fool me twice, shame on me.It was a mistake 20 yrs ago.The original Dome is still being paid for.Now a new one when schools,libraries etc are being cut?Fans-how do you respond to that?It seems selfish.I'm 34, w 2 kids btw.

by Pat	May 23, 2008 8:57 PM
City Officials: Make the Rays honor their current lease obligation. If they threaten to move to another city, then call their bluff. The economy stinks and cities all over the US are broke. No one is going to buy any professional team now.

by Mel and Joe	May 23, 2008 8:57 PM
The meeting went on until almost 10 p.m. You were able to sign up until 7:30 p.m.! The fact of the matter is, the proponents were not there because there are not that many! You all can outslick stupid ppl, but you cannot outslick the knowledgeable!

by Manny	May 23, 2008 6:12 PM
No NEW Waterfront Stadium. Want a new stadium? Then propose to build it next to the Trop (Like Raymond James & Tampa Stadium) and don't ask Pinellas County residents to pay any more than we are already paying to finance the Trop.

by Tom	May 23, 2008 2:50 PM
My Red sign went up this morning

by Rick	May 23, 2008 2:49 PM
Maybe the rednecks with the red signs should move back to Mayberry and hang out at Floyd's Barber Shop.

by Ed	May 23, 2008 2:48 PM
You hit the nail on the head Jon, that's why the people stealing the blue signs all over town are cotton tops driving Lexus SUVs!! Sorry Bayfont Tower folks, you are being selfish!

by Dave	May 23, 2008 2:47 PM
I think the idea of a new stadium is phenomenal, however the rays need to pony up more than rent in advance. The additional tax revenue from redevelopment will go toward what most taxes do, provide services for those residing in the area.

by Cornelius	May 23, 2008 12:21 PM
The main attraction for Pinellas County are the beautiful beaches. Most tourists are here because of the beaches. Most tourists are not here to see the Rays play baseball. I have not heard a tourist yet say" we flew from England to see the Rays play"

by tim	May 23, 2008 12:21 PM
I understand the tab jumped from $450,000,000.00 to $525,000,000 in just two weeks. Fuzzy math ain't the work for this debacle.

by PS	May 23, 2008 12:21 PM
Great article. Lot's of detail. Made me feel like I was in the council chamber! /sarcasm off

by Jimbo	May 23, 2008 12:21 PM
If it's so "beautiful" and a "wonderful facility" all of a sudden, with the team finally winning, why is no one going? And why has no one gone in years? Any why has it been called the "Dumb Dome" by so many locals? Opportunists....

by Steve	May 23, 2008 12:20 PM
Make the Rays fulfill their current agreement with the city before talking about a new agreement. It is obvious to me the Rays are planning to break this agreement so why trust them with a second one?

by Cornelius	May 23, 2008 12:20 PM
Tourists, ie. Baseball Fans will now be coming to the Bay Area for spring training to see the YANKEES>PHILLIES>BLUE JAYS? Right. Have the Rays ever marketed baseball in Great Britain? Visit St. Pete and see the Rays Play Baseball. Its BEACHES and SUN

by Mike	May 23, 2008 12:20 PM
If you want to celebrate our beautiful waterfront then build a beautiful stadium to draw people to it. We are fortunate as a city to have this opportunity...BUILD IT!

by Kenneth	May 23, 2008 12:20 PM
I'm surprised so many proponents are pushing for a referendum - in a city where the average voter is a 65 year old woman, what are you expecting the result to be?

by billy	May 23, 2008 12:20 PM
why is this thing being shoved down our throats? this will ruin downtown, especially the saturday market on central. build the thing in seminole or the gandy bridge area. let those folks deal with it.

by tunamanz	May 23, 2008 12:20 PM
BOTTOM LINE: NO STADIUM......NO RAYS!

by Ray F	May 23, 2008 12:20 PM
You can't go by the amount of people that came out yesterday. The majority of stadium supporters wouldn't have gotten there by the 6 oclock start. What a sad day to call myself a St Pete resident. Embarrassing. Go Rays!

by Mike Creyton	May 23, 2008 12:19 PM
If opponents in St. Pete really are outnumbering proponents than the people of St. Pete are even dumber than I gave them credit for. This would be a $1.2 billion development at zero cost to taxpayers and would increase the tax rolls. Ignorant people.

by Marshall	May 23, 2008 12:19 PM
There are more red signs out there because the POWW side has go around and stolen hundreds of blue signs. The pro stadium side is not as childish

by Court	May 23, 2008 12:19 PM
I am in favor of the new stadium and very much hope the deal gets done. I think debate on the issue is great but can't believe how childish the POWW side is with the way the try to stifle debate (4 signs stolen from my yard in 3 days) Go Rays

by Mel and Joe	May 23, 2008 12:18 PM
I would like to thank the people of POWW for all of their hard work and perseverance. These are all volunteers who have dedicated their spare time to the preservation of St. Pete's unspoiled waterfront. Thank you so much POWW!Pls.keep fighting on!

by donald	May 23, 2008 12:18 PM
Most of the speakers signed up to do so early in the day. Most of the people who support this project, and who want to see this city move forward had to sign up much later because we have jobs and work for a living and were not given time to speak.

by Chris	May 23, 2008 8:36 AM
Vote YES! Build this beautful ballpark!

by Kevin	May 23, 2008 8:36 AM
NO!!The reality is that there is just NO MORE ROOM!It would be a gridlock and parking nightmare.Tropicana Field is a beautiful facility in my opinion,and it's air-conditioned! Are we forgetting that bit of business?Heat-humidity-rain outdoors.NO!

by JeffJ	May 23, 2008 8:09 AM
How much time and money do city employees spend every day on this? The Rays have signed a contract to play at Tropicanna field- hold them to it.

by Justin E	May 23, 2008 8:09 AM
Vote NO!

by Steve Lange	May 23, 2008 8:09 AM
I looked at the POWW web site this evening and noticed that there are almost 42,000 hits in approximately 8 weeks. Pretty impressive. As was the POWW victory tonight at the Public Hearing. Go POWW.

by Tony	May 23, 2008 8:09 AM
I for one want the park, but if the residents of St Pete don't, that fine too. The city will stay the way it is and eventually have two large parcels of land that will benefit no one without a MLB team. Good luck in getting another one.

by Lin	May 23, 2008 8:09 AM
The economy is slowing making development of the entire Trop site overly optimistic.Rays could build an open stadium near the street & a 6 story parking garage on 25 acres & develop the rest.Leave the waterfront open & make Lang Field a city park.

by Bill	May 23, 2008 8:09 AM
the. Opponents outnumbered the proponents and the Rays as usual trucked in folks to sign cards. Most of the actual speakers voted against this outrageous proposal. This indicates the truly informed and engaged citizens know this scam for what it is.