Tampa and St. Petersburg are "looking at two different approaches to keeping" the Rays in the region, according to Danielson & Frago of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman yesterday met with Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Chris Steinocher to "sketch out the broad strokes of a campaign to entice the Rays to stay in their city." St. Pete leaders "describe their effort -- 'Baseball Forever' --as "more campaign than formal committee." Meanwhile, Tampa "has a committee," and it met yesterday to "plan for an introductory meeting with the Rays next week." The 90-minute meeting "took place at the Tampa office" of law firm Foley & Lardner, which counts former MLB President Bob DuPuy as a partner. Hillsborough County officials last year hired the firm to "advise them on stadium-related issues." The St. Pete mayor's office and chamber "will name a core group of 20 to 40 community and business leaders." Steinocher said that after it forms "within the next few weeks, it will enlist 'thousands' of others to Baseball Forever, recruiting from 'all of our industries, our geographies, our demographics.'" Danielson & Frago note the details of the campaign "have yet to be worked out," but it will show the city "can produce more season-ticket holders and corporate sponsorships." The city "does have time" as a clause in the recently approved memorandum of understanding to the team's contract "prohibits the Rays from closing on a new home in the next six months." Kriseman's chief of staff Kevin King said that it gives St. Pete "some space to craft its message" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/28).
