Time has run out for a Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal in Ybor City.
The team has until the end of the month to work out a deal for financing to build the stadium in Ybor, but today the Rays acknowledged that’s not going to happen in time.
Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg made the announcement on Tuesday at Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings.
The team had a legal agreement with the city of St. Petersburg to negotiate a deal to build a new baseball stadium outside of the city of St. Petersburg, but that three year agreement runs out at the end of this month.
Team President Brian Auld told the media he is still not totally giving up on the idea of building the stadium in Ybor.
“You learn to never say never. We know that a minimum, 2024 is the earliest we can possibly open a new ballpark,” said Auld.
Auld says right now nothing is off the table as a possibility for the Rays, but Auld and Matt Silverman maintain they are committed to keeping the team in the Tampa Bay area.
“I think that those same folks, if the Rays want to do a stadium here in St. Pete, I think those same folks will still have the same level of commitment,” St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said of business people who stepped forward to support the team.
“I’ve always said that we thought the best place for the Rays and to be the most successful is right on the Tropicana Field site. I’ve always thought that site made sense for them.”
Rays President Matt Silverman says the timing just isn’t in Ybor’s favor right now.
Silverman addressed a letter written by Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred.
Manfred says a letter to him by the Tampa Sports Authority spelling out the current framework for a deal lacks details.
“The letter is only a framework, lacking specific details that would be necessary for me and my staff to begin to understand the merits and feasibility of the proposal and the actual level of commitment being offered by your client,” said Manfred.
Silverman says he hoped to have more of a deal in place by now.
“These are the types of issues that we hope to have have attacked six months ago, a year ago and it might have provided us more of an opportunity to work through them,” said Silverman.
Business owners in St. Petersburg are thrilled the team will be around longer.
“Definitely. I’m very exited that they’re going to be able to play a little bit longer. It’s good for the business. It just brings people around,” said Patricia Francati of Genaro Cafe.