Fallout From Rays Decision To Abandon Stadium Deal

(St. Petersburg, FL) -- There's some bad blood between the Tampa Bay Rays and leaders in St. Petersburg. Rays owner Stu Sternberg announced yesterday the team won't pursue the stadium deal that's part of the Historic Gas Plant District project. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch says the bridge has been burned, and he has no interest in working with the Rays current owners. Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala says Sternberg should sell the team. With the door apparently closing on St. Pete, Tampa could be back in the picture. The team had explored building a stadium in Ybor City before plans fell apart. Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan said yesterday he's open to talking to the Rays again, but only if there's a new ownership group. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor writes on X she'll be happy to talk to the Rays again, too, but any proposal has to make sense for the taxpayers and the community.