There are new developments in the stadium location search for the Tampa Bay Rays.
- Team has planned news conference for Friday morning
- Commissioner Ken Hagan says Ybor City checks the boxes
- Rays didn't comment on Thursday
Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan tells Spectrum Bay News 9 that Ybor City is now the preferred site for a new stadium. However, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said the process is still "unfolding" to keep the Rays in St. Petersburg.
A press conference is reportedly scheduled for Friday where more details are expected to be released.
Hagan said Ybor City checks all the boxes for a new ballpark.
"It's is a perfect location that will be a catalyst for economic development as well," Hagan said. "And so that is why the team is going to announce (Friday) that this is their preferred site."
In a Thursday evening post on Twitter, Kriseman said: "This is the process unfolding as envisioned in order to keep the Rays in TB. The easy part is picking a favorite site. Hard part is figuring out the rest. I believe the Trop site is the best future home for the Rays, but we will also begin to master plan the site w/o a stadium."
Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the Rays for comment but a spokeswoman didn't provide one.
This is the process unfolding as envisioned in order to keep the Rays in TB. The easy part is picking a favorite site. Hard part is figuring out the rest. I believe the Trop site is the best future home for the Rays, but we will also begin to master plan the site w/o a stadium.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) February 8, 2018