ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The rollercoaster ride of whether the Tampa Bay Rays are leaving St. Petersburg or staying may end soon as St. Petersburg leaders narrow down the list of potential Tropicana Field site developers to two teams, and they must include plans of how to work with the Rays.
In a letter to the St. Pete City Council sent Friday, Mayor Rick Kriseman said that based on a review of all information received to date, he intends to eliminate two of the four remaining developers, and select two development teams as finalists. He expects to make a final selection by Friday, May 28.
The issue is how best to redevelop 86 acres at the Tropicana Field site. The outlines submitted include what each firm would like to build, which include, businesses, parks, family activities and other community ideas. To view the full list of plans in detail, click here. Plans were asked by the city to be submitted with and without the stadium. The community and the city don’t know if the Rays are staying when their contract expires in 2028.
“Once the final two development teams have been selected, my staff and I will meet with the two teams once again to ask any additional questions we may have regarding their proposals and to focus in on areas of interest, question or concern,” Kriseman said. “Additionally, at a committee of the whole to be scheduled, the two teams will appear before council to make a presentation, and answer any questions or address any concerns council may have regarding their proposals.”
Following the city council meeting, the Rays will be invited to meet with the finalists to see their proposals, and discuss how the chosen developer can work with the baseball team to coordinate the stadium location’s construction. Kriseman said St. Pete residents, council members, city staff and the Rays will have the opportunity to provide their opinions on the two developers contending for the job.
“While your hesitancy about moving forward with redevelopment until we receive greater certainty related to the Rays future has been made clear, I believe these two paths are not mutually exclusive,” Kriseman wrote. “I believe we can continue to move forward with selecting and beginning to work on a term sheet and, ultimately, a development agreement with the developer selected, while simultaneously renewing our negotiations with the Rays over a new lease or use agreement, in addition to a financing plan for construction of a new stadium.”
A Review Of The Tropicana Field RFP Time Frame, Process, According To The City