Friday, February 8, 2013
A vote to further explore the possibility of allowing the Tampa Bay Rays to look for a stadium outside St. Petersburg failed Thursday.
A proposal that could have allowed the Tampa Bay Rays organization to look for stadium options outside St. Petersburg if they paid the city an annual exploration fee failed Thursday in a city council meeting. St. Pete council member Charlie Gerdes put forward the proposal to amend the use-agreement in hopes that it could end the stalemate and jumpstart communications between Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and the city. "How do we break the stalemate," Gerdes asked. "In order to have a relationship, we got to be talking. We need a vibrant, engaged relationship where we are thinking about the future. "Not just to have the Rays here until 2027. Not to merely have them live up to the contractual agreement," Gerdes said. "To have the Rays be here…
Monday, February 4, 2013
The Major League Baseball team says it needs a new stadium to be successful in the Bay area. Some St. Petersburg leaders insist they must stay in the city. We want to hear what you think should happen.
It’s no secret that the Tampa Bay Rays have been talking with government officials outside of St. Petersburg about the need for a new stadium. They’ve gone on a road show of sorts, talking with officials on both the Hillsborough and Pinellas county commissions. Team management has made it clear that attendance numbers need to rise for the Rays to remain viable in the Tampa Bay area. They’ve also made it abundantly clear that Major League Baseball has lost its faith in Tampa Bay. While Hillsborough and Pinellas county officials want to lend a hand to restore that faith – and possibly a location for a shiny new stadium in their own backyards – St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster is adamantly opposed to letting the team out of its contract to play at …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A week after meeting with the Hillsborough County Commission, the Rays organization will meet with Pinellas commissioners at 2 p.m. on Jan. 29.
Last week Rays owner Stuart Sternberg told the Hillsborough County Commission that Major League Baseball no longer views St. Petersburg or the Tampa Bay area as a viable option for the Tampa Bay Rays. Today, Sternberg and the Rays organization will meet with the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners to discuss the future of the Rays in St. Pete, Pinellas County and Tampa Bay. The Rays presentation is slated to begin at 2 p.m. to kick off the meeting. If you can't make it to the meeting, you can watch online at pinellascounty.org/tv/default.htm. You can also watch the meeting live on Pinellas County Connection Television, which is channel 622 on Bright House, 18 on Knology and 44 on Verizon. During the Jan. 24 meeting with Hillsborough …
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The Rays organization met with the Hillsborough County Commission Tuesday and said Major League Baseball does not believe in the Tampa Bay area.
Since he was sworn into office, Mayor Bill Foster has maintained that the Tampa Bay Rays can only explore building a new stadium inside the city limits of St. Petersburg because the Rays' lease does not end at Tropicana Field until 2027. For three-plus years, Foster has tried to convince Rays owner Stuart Sternberg that St. Petersburg is the best option for the future of the Rays. However, after the Rays meeting Thursday with the Hillsborough County Commission, it is clear Foster has another entity to convince — Major League Baseball. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Sternberg said the MLB no longer views the Tampa Bay area as a viable place for a professional baseball team. Sternberg said, according to the Times, that he wants the …
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Tampa Bay Rays say they need a new stadium. St. Petersburg officials say the team is contractually obligated to remain at Tropicana Field for another 14 years. What do you think should happen, Tampa Bay?
It’s a brouhaha that’s been brewing in the Tampa Bay area for years: The Tampa Bay Rays say they need a new stadium. The City of St. Petersburg holds a contract that says the Major League Baseball team is obligated to play at Tropicana Field through the year 2027. Even so, the Rays haven’t been quiet about their perceived need for a newer, better stadium. A few years back, they floated the idea of building a new stadium on St. Petersburg’s waterfront. That idea was nixed in the court of public opinion. Now, team officials are planning to meet with both the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Commissions. The Hillsborough meeting, which will be open to the public, is set up for Jan. 24. The meeting with Pinellas officials takes place Jan. 29. …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
We want to know if you would be more likely to attend a Tampa Bay Rays game at a proposed location in Carillon Park than Tropicana Field.
A local developer has pitched a plan to build a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays at St. Petersburg's Carillon Park, which is just off I-275's Howard Frankland Bridge. The Ulmerton Road location appears to be a shorter commute for Rays fans who live in Hillsborough County and middle and northern Pinellas County. Old Northeast-Downtown St. Pete Patch reported that Steven Kurcan, project manager with CityScape, says the location of a stadium plays a big factor when it comes to fans attending games. MLB said a stadium has to be within a 30-minute drive of a stadium to be successful, Kurcan explained. The proposal also includes adding retail, restaurants and entertainment (read the details). So, what do you think of the Rays moving north to …
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Check out five things to know on the beaches today, July 29.
1) Folks from the Treasure Island Drum Circle begin to congregate around 4pm, today at the Treasure Island public beach access located at 10400 Gulf Blvd. Drums, dancers and admirers come together for an island time camaraderie. The music starts when the first drums arrive and ends at sunset. Bring a chair or beach towel and grab a space in the sand for a relaxing evening. 2) As the Tampa Bay Rays face the Los Angeles Angels on the road, the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort will be hosting a watch party. A giant screen will show the game, from the first pitch to the last out. The event is family friendly and admission is free. Parking, on site at the hotel, is $10. Food and drinks are available for purchase as well. 3) The high today is 89 …
Friday, June 1, 2012
What are you doing this weekend? Check out a Tampa Bay Rays Game, LL Cool J in Concert and GulfportStock!
Welcome to this week's Patch Minute! We have some awesome events in Gulfport, downtown St. Pete and the beaches! Downtown St. Pete We're starting this week's Patch Minute in downtown St. Pete where Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill is the "go to" spot before and after a Rays game. It's just across the street from Tropicana Field. The Rays are going head to head with the Orioles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night, may be the best bang for your buck because there is a postgame concert with rapper LL Cool J. Gulfport Everyone is invited to the first annual GulfportStock in the Art Village Courtyard on Sunday, June 3 from 12 - 8 p.m. There will be at least seven performers and an opportunity drawing. The event is a community based …
Jeff Kirkpatrick
2:12 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Well....as a fan, they should stay. But thinking of it as a business choice, they should leave st pete. No one likes driving way down there to see a game. Parking is horrible, and shouldnt be more expensive than the game. And its not really the fans fault....its how expensive concessions are at the games. People know they can spend 10 bucks to go see the game....but after a beer and a hot dog, … more ›