Does YES vote equal "NO DEAL" for Rays Ballpark Project?

[@jaredsaleski7739]

That was the most no yes vote ive ever seen. Thank you for airing that.

[@Glitteringmoonstone2022]

I started following your channel since the distraction of Tropican Field. Your coverage s the best and I always look forward to your updates.

[@NewNomics]

4:17 spot on here. This is the main reason the city voted yes and you can probably expect the county to do the same. The Rays terminate and give back the land or they find the financing to cover the over runs. That's the agreement, the agreement is in effect. Glad at least the city is willing to call the Rays bluff. Rays can work out naming rights to get more funding, they can go back to MLB and up the loan from them. The Rays have options to overcome over runs if they become an issue.

[@michaelriccardi1940]

Great insights here. Smart for St Pete to follow through on its commitment and put the onus on the Rays.

[@alanwwhitman9096]

Puts it on King Latvala for now. Stu will figure out a way. This may boil down to who has the better lawyers. It's a sad state of affairs but in today's world that's where we're at!

[@Drummer8282]

Perhaps by delaying the bond vote as long as they did was the city’s way of getting out of a bad deal they made earlier. They are forcing the Rays to back out and forfeit their right to that land.

[@dfpelletier]

Whoever negotiated that contract on behalf of St. Pete should be sued for malpractice. What a stupid contract to let the Rays keep the land if the city back out. A reasonable monetary penalty for backing out, yes. But, the entirety of this prime land, total lunacy.

[@sweepingdenver]

Exactly. Calling their bluff is fine, but the original deal was insanely stupid!

[@bobansak2583]

yea, WTF!

[@HKmaroLS1]

@@sweepingdenver It's not stupid when politics and private interest are in the same bed.

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

I think it has to do with the original deal in 1998 when the Rays came into existence. It may even have been part of a deal with MLB to get the team. I am only guessing on its origin, but it's been around for a long while.

[@DanielCurious]

Thanks, Mr. Brazil! You’ve become my “go to” sports analyst and news personality. I appreciate the work you do, and keeping things clear when reporting. Thank you.

[@HKmaroLS1]

Yeah, dude should have 2x the number of subscribers by next year.

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

Yep, I agree. His delivery is engaging as if it's a drama we are watching unfold. I'm sure the folks in Oakland think theirs had more drama and a sad ending, but this is a slow train wreck that everyone will die, including the Rays for "winning" the deal. I will argue that this situation is more captivating than the Oakland one. And yeah, Brodie is from Oakland and had specific ties to the Athletics, but this Rays thing is drama after drama with each side delivering convincing punches. Really epic stuff and we are thankful to have Brodie deliver it in a way that we are held at the edge of our seats.

[@joes3-e13]

I don't see the Rays getting their stadium nothing but constant delays & lip svc, similar to the A's situation where they are not wanted in Vegas. Rays should sell the 60 acres of land & just leave Florida, take the money & run.

[@Azeria]

On a long enough timeline all businesses become real estate holding corporations. Nice to see a local government pushing back for once.

[@tobybartlett8449]

Love your breakdowns Brodie. I think you should run for public office

[@SaberToothBicycle]

I knew this couldn't have been that straightforward! Thanks for the update. In the end--seems poor D.J. Kitty still needs a Forever Home.

[@robertgoodson5528]

I liked the coverage here.

[@irwinsaltzman979]

The companies and Team sports owners have better lawyers, tax attorneys, and normally get better terms than the localities. Impressed with local folks.

[@christopherking9338]

On some level, it almost comes across as "extortion of local municipalities."

[@irwinsaltzman979]

@ true

[@SippyCupAdventures]

Fascinating developments. Wow.

[@rodneylynn1977]

We appreciates you

[@charliem9831]

One lady on the counsel sure had the “calling their bluff” attitude

[@NewyorkRican2191]

The Rays would be in a great position to relocate their team to Orlando. They have the financial resources necessary to construct a stadium, and this would certainly attract more fans due to the influx of vacationers who visit during the baseball season. Furthermore, Orlando has even prepared renderings of a 45k seating stadium, which appears to be quite appealing.

[@QuocNguyen-ly2lw]

Been saying this for years if the Ray are smart enough they should have leave Tampa n move to Orlando city …

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

The 65 acres part of the conversation will keep this together.

[@kjhuang]

Will Orlando give the Rays public money, and if so how much? Those are the first and last questions the Rays will ask.

[@jamescaron6465]

The Rays are gone, this sealed it. The city and county are squeezing them hard.

[@acebragg5559]

Explain how they're "squeezing them hard".

[@jamescaron6465]

@@acebragg5559 They are telling the Rays to either put up or you are going to walk away with nothing, not even the land. They can't sit on it and run the clock out, they can't fall back on the old ballpark, it is either shell out for a new ballpark or GTFO with the shirt on your back. I am not saying what they are doing is wrong but they are not going to let this go on any further.

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

Even if they are beign squeezed, if they walk away then they abandon their rights to 65 acres of land. They could theoretically take out a loan against that land and find the money to foot their part of the agreement. That alone can allow them to "sit on it" for longer. The Rays aren't dumb though, they know how to "cry" loudly about not being able to afford cost overruns, but they do have means to make it happen. They just don't want to unless they have to. The city and county know this and are playing hard ball. Good on everyone to make full use of all this legal language and fighting. It's great drama for us fans.

[@acebragg5559]

@@jamescaron6465 OK. I get where you're coming from. My contention was that you said they were "squeezing them hard". I don't consider making them live up to the original deal, or formally back out, as being squeezed. I find it ridiculous that a 2 month delay is the difference between the Rays being able to live up to the deal or not being able to afford their part of it. St. Pete might actually get lucky and not have to go through with this stupid deal. Just glad I live in Tampa and not St. Pete. I wouldn't mind having them over here but not with a stupid deal like the one St. Pete made.

[@jamescaron6465]

@@acebragg5559oh it’s a fustercluck and a half. The city in the county aren’t doing anything illegal or unethical, but they aren’t messing around and they’re putting their foot down good and hard. They aren’t, however, completely blameless here since they did reduce the coverage of the stadium and didn’t make sure that it was still up to standards, even though the raises were responsible for any upkeep they’re gonna they should’ve wrote herd on that

[@whfowle]

This sounds and looks like all the other "stadium" projects that major league sports teams try to leverage on governments and the surrounding communities. I've never seen a city that could actually make their investment back on sports stadiums. Meanwhile, the team owners are raking in the profits and charging outrageous prices for everything and paying off the players and coaches with higher and higher salaries. Meanwhile, there are many citizens who will never go to the games or even care about them who have to foot the bill of higher and higher taxes. I think it is time to let the ballon bust. Let the teams build their own stadiums and then see how many people come to pay for the gigantic ticket prices. They might then come crashing back to earth and reality.

[@sjsharksfan8573]

Is it possible the Rays are doing this to speed up the process? After seeing the debacle in Oakland dealing with government entities this might be exactly what the Rays wanted all along and set forth a plan to achieve it!

[@mstephens44]

I love her strategy.

[@P0w2you]

Go county, Go City, hellz yeah play hard ball with the team!

[@mikeh1242]

There is another piece, City of St. Pete is responsible for providing an MLB dome stadium for the Rays, per lease agreement and is scheduled to vote on initial engineering contract($1.5M) to fix roof next week. If you remember 2 weeks ago they elected to fund the roof fix, then an hour later came back and voted not to fund roof fix. WTF. Fixing the roof will be $50- $70 million just to be torn down 3 years later. They only have $25 million insurance plan, which 1st requires a $25 million deductible. Who signed off on that insurance policy? Ray's and City make a deal to not fix the trop for a cash settlement of $25 million, the deductible money. Rays will have to play in Steinbrenner for 3-4 years until stadium is complete. Hines Construction might end up with partial ownership. The other option is Rays sell to a Tampa investment group and put stadium in Ybor City. Yes, its messy.

[@riggler2]

You describe what sounds like the best outcome for everyone. No one wants to go see an MLB game in St. Pete, and the evidence is clear. It's not about how good the team is, nor how good the stadium is. The plans for their new stadium look just as depressing as the Trop has all these years. I think it might take more than $25 million to make the Rays go away and forget about repairing the Trop. Not because they WANT the Trop repaired, but because the Rays have leverage in that deal. It will probably end up in court over the lease agreement/repairs/insurance stuff.

[@thomaseboland8701]

On the change of insurance coverage, that was a calculated risk and a good one to take. With only three years left on the stadium, the city/county decided to reduce costs (good idea) on an asset that was at end-of-life. They happened to get caught in a storm - literally - but the decision still holds. Why fix a stadium with only 3 years left when it would take 2+ years to fix it? The insurance decision was actually a prudent one. It told everyone that The Trop was done, so we're not fixing it anymore.

[@mikeh1242]

@@thomaseboland8701 City is responsible to provide a domed stadium for the Rays, like it or not. The roof was 10 years past its life expectancy. Who has an insurance policy that has a $25 mil deductible that only pays out $25 mil. Could you imagine if your health insurance policy had a $10k deductible and once you paid that, they would only pay out $10k. No one has that shit*y policy. That was my point. The city owns the shitt* Trop and it's their responsibility to provide the Shitt* Trop to the Rays per lease agreement. They are on the hook to fix the Shitt* Trop.

[@mikeh1242]

@@thomaseboland8701 City is responsible to provide a domed stadium for the Rays, like it or not. The roof was 10 years past its life expectancy. Who has an insurance policy that has a $25 mil deductible that only pays out $25 mil. Could you imagine if your health insurance policy had a $10k deductible and once you paid that, they would only pay out $10k. No one has that shit*y policy. That was my point. The city owns the chitt* Trop and it's their responsibility to provide the chitt* Trop to the Rays per lease agreement. They are on the hook to fix the chitt* Trop.

[@michaeldalsky1209]

Not messing with this lady

[@scottcampbell9515]

It sounds like the city and the council are tired of the back-and-forth, and lack of progress. Good for them. Force their hand.

[@reverend_wintondupree]

Less the back and forth, more so the election results and economic realities finally taking notice that the county and city should have never promised in the first place.

[@scottcampbell9515]

@@reverend_wintondupree Well rebuilding the Trop is not an option. Anyone who doesn't live there can see that with just pictures alone. I also know from others who say the Trop is in a bad spot so moving it to Pinellas County will only be a boon on the local economy.

[@jamesfergus594]

Jimmy from Chicago…Hi Brody…Thanks for information and updates!😊😊😊

[@fnaffoxyandmanglepizzeriaf2359]

I still think Pinellas County is probably going to vote no and probably delay it a 3rd time.

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

If they vote no, then it's a no. I think you mean that they'll vote to delay it. They can delay it until late March or early April, I think.

[@virtualpublishingllc4501]

The Dbacks are pushing for a new stadium! They are claiming it’s too big!

[@TheeOriginalSurferbob]

The new ballpark on The Strip is going to be awesome. I love the location, and the design is fantastic. 🐘❤️

[@SladeBling]

I think there's a good chance the Rays stay in St. Pete both sides want the best deal possible they'll come up with some sort of agreement. I'm pretty sure the Rays owner does not want to move to Nashville and Montreal is OUT.

[@alanwwhitman9096]

There is NOWHERE that Stu can get a new stadium built as quickly as here in St. Pete. Except for demolishing the Trop, the whole process could then be sped up. The biggest problems could easily be the shortage of labor and materials. And this will not just be this particular project but all construction with the new maladministration coming up! Nashville is tapped out and that would still be at least 5 to 7 years out.

[@SladeBling]

@@alanwwhitman9096 I think you're right Stu will get his new stadium which I think is one of only 2 ways to make a MLB franchise more valuable.

[@craigphillips3154]

So, it sounds like the City Council doesn't really want the team...but they also don't want the team to possess those 65 acres, either. This isn't exactly going to make the Rays feel like the situation is going to be any better with the new ballpark over what they had with the old ballpark. Quite honestly, the Rays should just move on. Go find out how serious Tampa (the actual city), Orlando, Nashville, SLC, Portland, Charlotte, Montreal, etc. are and move quickly to get a new ballpark deal done. There are plenty of options out there. Hell, find out if Oakland can still do a deal for Howard Terminal. All of the ones mentioned above already have at least a minor league stadium that could be used temporarily while a new ballpark is being built. Go somewhere that actually WANTS you there.

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

Sure.... No city in America will offer 65 acres of land in addition to a half paid for stadium. The Rays (and any business person) would not walk away from that. If the Rays voluntarily walk away and "see how serious" other cities are then they are just giving up 65 acres of downtown land for an opportunity that would be better. I, of course, cannot speak with certainty, but that just isn't going to be the case. All three parties will ultimately agree to this deal, but all three will be pissed and hate each other for the next 30 years. And, oh, yeah, this location still sucks. The fans wont come, but who cares, this business deal is too good for the Rays to leave. This whole thing could play out like a movie in a few years, or at minimum an ESPN 30 for 30.

[@craigphillips3154]

@@ArizonaHotSauce If all 3 parties will be pissed and hate each other for the next 30 years...isn't that just business as usual from the past 30 years?

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

@@craigphillips3154 Fair point. Nobody wins with a contract.

[@alanwwhitman9096]

@@craigphillips3154 This is nothing that money can't handle! Certain commissioners in this political climate feel the need to flex their muscles and show that they'll only allow this kind of spending if they get a cut. The Rays and their MLB lawyer's may have to set them straight and it may cause bad blood, but King Latvala will get over it when his Threshers get their slice of the pie!

[@stevencipriano3962]

Yes

[@JL_-on1st]

What about the White Sox ? They would have to get moving soon cause their lease is up 2029

[@kjhuang]

They could just stay at Guaranteed Rate Field?

[@mikeh1242]

I would guess that Pinellas County does something similar and accelerates the vote and passes it. This puts the ball in Rays court. They will have to come up with their funds or risk losing the land which is the Jewel of the deal. I figure Hines Construction the Rays partner will pony up some cash to fulfill Ray's financial obligations.

[@gordonlong3095]

Wow, that’s pretty intense. I hadn’t known about the land connection. This almost feels like a Wild West movie showdown over a ranch; appropriate, since the ‘other’ Tropicana (the resort) was in the Wild West (Las Vegas). Meh, I suppose the mess in Oakland, Sacramento and Vegas over the Athletics is its own Wild West Showdown just as much….

[@chriscreaturo8809]

"Yes" equaling "No" what are we in, an episode of Seinfeld at Del Boca Vista???

[@dyoung5690]

If im the Rays and after hearing what the town council said, I'm outta here. Nashville would be more then happy to have them, plus they could probably fill out a stadium for once.

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

And walk away from 65 acres of land... I don't think so. Ignore the stadium and baseball part of it, but that business opportunity to own/manage 65 acres is too much to walk away.

[@GDavis49]

With the public cost of a new Titans stadium there might not be funds available for a new ballpark in Nashville

[@zcvxs]

It means they just agree to push the deal to the Rays to make the decision.

[@BrandanTheBroker]

Make the deal, Rays can find someone to step up and bridge the gap.

[@unseeninja]

St Pete is closed to the MLB. They really need to move to the Ybor area.

[@jayscott4990]

My thing is this. If they don't want them there then just be direct and tell them you don't want them there

[@socaliente2543]

Sounds like the city doesnt even want the Rays. They just don't want to lose the land.

[@JEndless2025]

With the potential trade wars next year, I could see a lot of stadium plans changing significantly or outright being cancelled.

[@someguy7222]

3 words: Salt Lake City

[@edc2553]

Both the Rays and Marlins should either relocate out of state or be disbanded. There will never be sufficient fan support in Florida; the state was meant for spring training only, period.

[@GDavis49]

100% 👍

[@acebragg5559]

@@GDavis49 100% wrong. I can't speak for Miami, but if the Rays were in Tampa and not St. Pete there would be zero issue with them getting butts in seats.

[@QuocNguyen-ly2lw]

Orlando city

[@GDavis49]

@@acebragg5559 If..If..If, it’s time to move on from this failed experiment. And I’m sure the taxpayers in Miami would like a do over on funding Marlins Park

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

Then you clearly missed the whole point about the 65 acres of land. There is such a non-baseball and non-stadium business aspect to this that will keep this going.

[@glan7998]

It seems like the YES vote means that all of you who put these videos on KZbin need to get a life, to find better things to worry about.

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

Next up on the Sports Stadium News at 6, national NFL fans voice their support for snow globe games that the Browns look to take away in Brooke Park. And then--$780 million for 78? A revisit on the Sox stadium proposal...

[@marioq8395]

It seems like both sides have real contempt for each other. Seems a big lack of trust on both sides.

[@kjhuang]

Imagine how much simpler all this would be if the Rays, oh I dunno, *paid for their own stadium* .

[@jayboogie1295]

St Pete seems to want the Rays gone. The Rays are the reason why downtown st Pete got built up and now the Rays are heading to Nashville thanks to these commissioners. If you voted for those clowns, thank them when the Rays leave Tampa Bay for good.

[@acebragg5559]

They're not going to Nashville. Nashville is currently over budget on the Titans stadium, which is over $2 billion at this point. They're not building another one.

[@audrisampson]

Get the Rays out of this city.. The city doesn't support them, the fans don't support them. Just give them a fresh start somewhere that might appreciate them.

[@billbartok7324]

I enjoy your videos on this topic. But I am confused. Why are different cities, counties involved (e.g why is St. Pete city council voting on a Tampa Bay team?)

[@mrjeffwithaG]

current and (planned=) new stadium are in St. Petersburg

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

And because St. Pete can't afford all of the costs, the county (Pinellas County) has been asked to help pay for the new stadium.

[@brodiebrazil]

*Some other videos you might like:* Dodger Stadium QUIETLY digging $100M Clubhouse Upgrades 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoDMdmNjrNOJh7s St. Petersburg APPROVES funding for Rays Stadium [Highlights] 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqSTmIp5iJupZ7M A's pressured to field first $100M team? (in Sacramento) 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/amqVe4ChnbVpl7s Sacramento A's are COMPETITION for Las Vegas? 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqmXqJyOZqtmm5I San Jose Sharks are the NHL'S SURPRISE team in 2024? 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rabJl3aQrNKnoNU An overdue chat with Casey Pratt 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/enO1n6eHr7d6opY MLB hints at "Golden At-Bat" rule change 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGeQeoCfqNl6b7M What additions do SF Giants NEED into 2025? 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/e560lWWlfJaIhqM Vegas ballpark cost INCREASES to $1.75B & A's owner writes pledge 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZfTaWiupZx3o5o NHL Players want Arizona Coyotes BACK 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaa9moGHl8qIe7M Oakland needs an MLB Task Force (starting now) 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZSqnoprod2de6c Rays DEADLINE response: still "IN", but can't afford ballpark 📺 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4bYeJ9siL9jfac

[@moondog8072]

Yellowstone happening in St Pete, great

[@miragewizard]

Since the Rays are willing to pay $15 million and the Athletics aren't willing to pay $19.4 million, the Rays could move to Oakland and play in the Coliseum with proceeds coming from the land that they are about to sell.

[@miguelruelas8967]

Its interesting to watch this game of chicken between the Rays and St. Petersburg. St. Pete isn't backing down and Pinellas County presumably isn't either. Your move, Rays.

[@chuckcenkner1459]

The Rays are a minor league team thanks to it ownership!

[@mikeh1242]

That minor league team The Ray's with their lowly $75 million payroll, can hold their own with the Yanks, Red sox, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Astros, Phillies, anyone. Yes, that minor league team was in the World Series a few years ago and in the playoffs 5 years in a row until this year. There are only 2 other teams that did that. Dodgers and Astros. The Ray's pitching rotation this year is pretty damn good for a "Minor League Team"

[@spencerward431]

That would force Sternberg to sell the team if he can’t afford it

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

I beleive Sternberg owns less than 50% of the Rays. He is, however the managing partner who owns the most and is the face of ownership. That is an entirely different story, but a complicated one as well. The other owners actually sued Sternberg less than a year ago for many of these various topics about the stadium and location issues. Yeah, this stuff and story is amazingly crazy and fascinating to watch.

[@GDavis49]

@@ArizonaHotSauce According to my Google machine Sternberg owns approximately 80% of the Rays

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

@@GDavis49 Stuart Sternberg - 48%, Vincent J. Naimoli (his estate after August 2019)- 15%, Limited Partners - 37%

[@ArizonaHotSauce]

@@GDavis49 Stuart Sternberg - 48%, Vincent J. Naimoli (his estate after August 2019)- 15%, Limited Partners - 37%

[@alanwwhitman9096]

He's already been looking for some new partners. Stu doesn't want to spend all of his money on this!

[@stevencipriano3962]

The Rays are leaving Florida

[@wi54725]

Ka ching, Ka ching. That sound you hear is the sound of all the attorney fare meters running up a big tab, because this thing is going to head to a multi-year litigation process, where the Rays claim the city and county delays are not cost overruns, and the city and county are responsible for the extra funds needed to build this large development one year later than originally planned. There is maybe a 1% chance that Major League Baseball will ever again be played in Pinellas County, and it likely won't be played in the Tampa Bay area after 2025. Nashville is on the clock with Montreal, Charlotte, Raleigh, Indianapolis, New Orleans, San Antonio, Austin, and Salt Lake City all needing to be ready to get involved.

[@alanwwhitman9096]

You are correct but all of those cities would be out in the future 5 to 8 years at a min. Stu doesn't want to play in a minor league stadium that long and MLB doesn't want 2 teams at a time doing that! MLB will step in. They are extremely powerful and so is the players union!

[@kjhuang]

Of all those cities only SLC has a pot of taxpayer money ready to blow on a new stadium. The Rays can't just pick any city and ask them to fart out a new ballpark for them.

[@marcsimon3275]

What happens if Pinellas County says "NO"??? Do the Rays still keep the land in that circumstance?

[@dannyboy34677]

Pinellas will say NO to this deal. This is such a one-sided deal. This is the worst deal in the history of stadium deals. JP Peterson believes this will be dead when the County votes on the 17th. This is nothing more than a land grab by Stu. That Pinellas deal was going to implode and JP Peterson predicted as much two months ago and sure enough, that's what happened

[@marcsimon3275]

@@dannyboy34677 Just because JP Peterson says it doesn't make it true... He has an opinion like everybody else. This deal is never signed if they didn't feel Pinellas county was on board... A hurricane delayed things... And if I understand correctly saying "no" just gives Rays 65 acres for nothing...

[@dannyboy34677]

@@marcsimon3275 JP Peterson has been right on this from day one on all this. That deal was going to implode because it was so bad of a deal. He predicted this to happen two months ago and sure enough, that's what happened. Pinellas will kill the deal on the 17th. Stu is the elephant in the room that turns everyone against each other and MLB is fed up with it. They will make Stu sell and we will have a new Rays owner sooner rather than later.

[@dannyboy34677]

@@marcsimon3275 JP Peterson saying it is true. That deal was so bad that he predicted two months ago it would implode and sure enough, that's exactly what happened. This is nothing more than a land grab by Stu. The Romano quote in the Times is inaccurate and JP called him out on it this morning on his show.

[@marcsimon3275]

@@dannyboy34677 JP predicted there would be a hurricane... He should have let the citizens know. He was not right!!! At least not yet... It did not implode... There was a HURRICANE!!! So Pinellas needed a little extra time because they were dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane... Which caused the Rays ownership to panic thinking it could delay the deal a year. And they used strong language to scare everybody to rush the deal, which did not go over well... But, then cooler heads prevailed and the Rays ownership said we are still in... If they vote yes, I believe they ate back on track for 2028 opening. It sounds like they are going to make Rays stick to their deal... I guess we will find out in 2 weeks...

[@LarryInNM]

MLB Contracts both A's and Rays while re-expanding to Las Vegas, Salt Lake, Nashville and a Fourth location. Or some wealthy Middle Easterners start their own MLB a la LIV Golf.

[@alanwwhitman9096]

That makes no sense whatsoever! MLB definitely doesn't want to contract. They want to expand by 2 more by 2030 and then 2 more by 2035. That's 2 Bill a pop for MLB. MLB will push extremely hard to keep them in Tampa Bay. Broadcast rights. TV shares. This is the future of baseball and all professional sports!

[@jonathanperrone842]

The Land belongs to the city, the county has little to no skin in the game it’s not their land to begin with for the project. It seems to me the rays are in no position to renegotiate anything

[@James9000]

No public funding for billionaire entertainment centers do you understand me it's not worth the money

[@MyGrandfathersGranddaughter]

The Rays can get the added financing - particularly since they will make a lot of $ on the rest of the redevelopment. Banks will be willing to loan them the cost overruns with collateral based on the redevelopment rights.

[@chuckdameron5626]

It makes the rays put up or shut up the government knows the rays do not have the money to do the deal

[@gordongross6311]

Wow. And I’ll bet all the trolls will still blame the fans and the city when the rays leave.

[@echobase1648]

time for contraction in MLB🤔

[@BlackSaiyan24]

Yeah, Rays are still gone.

[@smokey_gator_239]

In what sense? If anything these votes force the Rays to stay, or give up 60+ acres of prime real estate.

[@zcorpalpha2462]

See, I told you all 😂 Rays are leaving 🥃🔥 Rays ownership is Crazy

[@jerryharris6342]

Those female councilwomen sound like they're asking to talk to the Rays' manager.

[@alanwwhitman9096]

The owner is Stu, and he is the money man.

[@mikes7446]

Yeah let’s spend millions to make Miami marlins 2.0

[@Richardkowalski60]

MLB has the money.

[@TB-Snowman-85]

Even if the Rays get this new stadium in St.Pete. It will always be empty just like Tropicana field was. It’s to damn far from the average Rays fan who lives in Tampa.

[@MrMac1138]

So clueless. About a million people live within a 30 minute drive. The average Rays fan does not live in Tampa. People over in Tampa love to think Tampa is the center of the area. It isn't. St Pete has much more of a night life than Tampa. The issue is Tropicana Field feels like a Costco and there is nothing special that makes anyone want to go there above just watching on TV. St Pete has greater population density than Tampa (about 800 more per square mile). It is also HALF the size of the sprawl that is Tampa. If you add St Pete, Largo, Pinellas Park, and Clearwater plus the beaches you still have LESS land area than Tampa by itself and about 600,000 people - about 200,000 more than Tampa. Southern Pinellas is FAR MORE DENSELY POPULATED than any other area in the Tampa Bay region. Downtown Tampa is a ghost town. Amalie has some nice stuff around it if you don't go far then tons of dusty parking lots. Ray Jay is just in the middle of the sprawl. But Hillsborough County residents are the problem. They never want to cross the bridges because it reminds them how bad Tampa is compared to St Pete and Pinellas County. If Pinellas County residents didn't go to Bucs and Lightning games, they would have moved a long time ago. Most of their support comes from Pinellas.

[@TB-Snowman-85]

@ Nah. St.Pete is the problem. And you know it.

[@henryjpridejr]

Welcome to the new populist party

[@mikeh1242]

St. Pete City has been taken to school. They are out of their League, pardon the pun.

[@cosmostrek2001]

rays billionaire owner is crying the cost has🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂 risen and where will i get the money. just leave already and stop ripping people off.

[@alanwwhitman9096]

He is right that the cost has risen greatly, and it will not just be here. With the new Tariffs and Deportations that the Orange man has promised all building costs will go up by a third!

[@SizzurpFoo]

The league should take ownership of the A's and Rays's at this point.

[@HKmaroLS1]

Gaslight district (ball park or not) is still in a geographical dead zone. Both Counties need to man-up and build an elevated rail-way with car parking at the Gaslight, Amelie Arena (Tampa Aquarium & Cruise port of call), and Raymond James stadium to offer park-and-ride transportation for shopping and entertainment (NFL, NHL, and MLB) throughout all three areas.

[@zcvxs]

It means they just agree to push the deal to the Rays to make the decision.

[@zcvxs]

It means they just agree to push the deal to the Rays to make the decision.