Oldsmar, Fla., Mayor Doug Bevis and Tampa-based architect Francisco Semsch "made their pitch Thursday to sell Oldsmar as a stadium site" for the Rays, "unveiling a plan for offices, hotels, restaurants and ... a new ballpark on 120 acres of land," according to Christopher O'Donnell of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The site's "biggest selling point" is that it "straddles the Hillsborough-Pinellas county line, meaning tax revenue from both counties could potentially help pay for the ballpark," which is estimated to cost at least $600M. Bevis said, "We put our best foot forward today. If we don't get selected, it's not because we didn't try." Bevis said that the site, located about 16 miles from downtown Tampa, is "within a reasonable drive of St. Petersburg and Tampa." The Rays "played no part in the development of Oldsmar's design," but it did send VP/Operations & Facilities Rick Nafe to "observe the city make its pitch." Nafe said the presentation was "impressive." Nafe: "It will be one of the sites we look at as we go through our due diligence." However, the idea of a Rays ballpark in Oldsmar also "drew mixed reactions." After years of "wrangling with the city of St. Petersburg, the team was granted permission to explore stadium sites in December." Since then, team officials have "met with business and elected leaders in Tampa and with officials from Baseball Forever, a campaign started by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman to keep the Rays at the Tropicana Field site in St. Petersburg." Pinellas County officials have "identified 17 potential sites, including seven in St. Petersburg" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/28).
