County asks Tampa Bay Rays to commit to plans for $1.3 billion ballpark by Sunday

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays should declare in writing whether they want to pursue an existing financing plan for a new $1.3 billion ballpark or walk away from the deal, a top county official says. Kathleen Peters, chair of the Pinellas County Commission, said in a letter to top Rays executives that the county needs to know by Sunday “whether you intend to see it come to fruition” before the commission votes Dec. 17 on bonds to raise its share of the ballpark cost. “As we always have, we will maintain contact with the city and county as we navigate our future.” The $1.3 billion, 30,000-seat stadium would be the first piece of a broader downtown renovation project known as the Historic Gas Plant District, named for a predominantly Black community that was moved out for Tropicana Field and a highway spur. Peters, the county commission chair, said in her letter there is still time for the current ballpark deal to move forward with passage of the financing bonds.