Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg said that the team is "working pretty much every day" on the effort to get a new ballpark, according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. As of now, the team is "waiting for Hillsborough County officials 'to completely weigh in' with a site and specifics of the project." Sternberg: "When they do then we'll be able to make a decision in a pretty quick time." Topkin notes that makes it "sound as if they already know" what their Pinellas County options are. However, Sternberg said that is "not quite" the case. He added that they were "hoping to have a decision by the end of the season, but the end of the year may be more likely." Also, Sternberg said that he "didn't know how the results of the St. Petersburg mayoral election between incumbent Rick Kriseman (with whom they struck the deal allowing permission to look in Hillsborough County) and former mayor Rick Baker would affect the process" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/1). Meanwhile, Barclay Harless, a candidate for St. Petersburg City Council, said that he "will not support any taxpayer money" to construct a new ballpark for the Rays until the city’s "wastewater systems are 'fully repaired and functional'" (SAINTPETERSBLOG.com, 7/31).
