St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and the Rays have "negotiated an agreement to let the team search for new stadium sites in Hillsborough County in exchange for payments to the city if the team leaves before its contract at Tropicana Field expires" in '27, according to a front-page piece by Nohlgren, Stanley & Frago of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Payments would be "based on how many years remain" on the Tropicana Field lease if the Rays leave, starting at $4M a season until December '18, dropping to $3M a season from '19-22 and $2M from '23-26. The Rays "would have to make any remaining bond payments on the Trop," approximately $2M a year. The city "would cover demolition expenses." City Council member Charlie Gerdes said the agreement "brings clarity to how much the Rays would pay the city if the team moves out of St. Petersburg." Nohlgren, Stanley & Frago note the deal -- pending approval by the council -- "would end a long standoff." The Rays "contend that the Trop cannot support baseball in the long run because it is outdated and poorly located." Rays Owner Stu Sternberg has said that he "would not consider any new locations in St. Petersburg unless he could also look for sites in Tampa." City officials until Monday had "refused to let him look." Kriseman "made a settlement with the Rays a high priority" following his election. The Rays under the deal "can only look at locations in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties" and have until Dec. 31, 2017, "to settle on a new site." In addition, the team "will provide in-kind ongoing compensation of up to" $1M if it moves, which "could include season tickets for marketing the city and signs in the new stadium touting St. Petersburg" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/9).
