Rays to ask taxpayers for stadium help

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

The baseball team has proposed building a waterfront stadium in downtown St. Petersburg.

ST. PETERSBURG (Bay News 9) -- The Tampa Bay Rays will ask Pinellas County taxpayers for help to pay for their new $450 million waterfront ballpark.

Much like the way Tropicana Field was built, Rays officials want the public portion to be a joint project between the city and the county.

The city and county split the costs on that project.

Announced on Friday, that decision comes on the heels of St. Petersburg's Council of Neighborhood Associations voting against the project.

More Information

In a 19-3 vote Wednesday, members approved a recommendation to keep it off the November ballot.

CONA says the city should not lease the Al Lang site for the new proposed stadium, saying instead the team should look into redeveloping Tropicana Field or examining other sites for a possible new stadium.

Be in the Know with Bay News 9 Now!

Get news, weather, and traffic alerts delivered directly to your computer desktop, e-mail, or cell phone with Bay News 9 Now.

Subscribe for free!

In-depth with Charlie Crist

crist Florida Gov. Charlie Crist responds to backlash from his own party, corruption in politics, critics who say he backtracked on supporting the federal stimulus, and much more. It's all Sunday on Political Connections at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.