Now that Hillsborough County (Fla.) leaders have decided where they would like to build a Rays ballpark, the "debate turns" to the question of "who will pay for it and how," according to a front-page piece by Steve Contorno of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The proposed site in the Channel District-Ybor City area presents the "opportunity to build an urban ballpark with, perhaps, waterfront views and access." The Rays have "not yet said what they envision for the 14-acre site, or how much it will cost." But if recent history is an indicator, building a new ballpark "will run" between $500M-650M. That figure "doesn't include the cost of acquiring the land, building roads and parking lots, rerouting sewer lines and adding new exit ramps off highways or new stops on transit lines." The Rays have "not said how much they're willing to put toward a new ballpark, but it is unlikely ownership will offer to pay" for one outright. And already, the Hillsborough County commissioners who "must approve any deal are promising to shield taxpayers from the bill." That would seem to put the county and Rays at a "likely impasse." But there is a "caveat." What constitutes "taxpayer" dollars is "open for interpretation." Hillsborough's hurdles to put together a financing package have St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman "believing the Rays will stay on his side of the bay." Kriseman has "offered to build a new ballpark at a redeveloped Tropicana Field" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/26).
LONG ROAD AHEAD: In Tampa, John Romano writes the Rays' ballpark saga is a "long way from being over, and it's going to take a lot more cooperation than what we saw here." The Rays and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn were both "aware the land package was essentially done, but neither knew the announcement was coming Tuesday." And neither "seemed particularly enthusiastic about the timing." Romano notes some "suspect the timing might have had something to do with the upcoming mayoral election in St. Petersburg." Everyone knew it was going to be "difficult to find desirable, and available, land in Hillsborough." And everyone knew it was going to be "even more difficult to find available money to build on that land." Romano: "And that's where we are today. ... They will not, and realistically should not, fully commit to the site until a financing plan is put together." If they "embrace Ybor with both arms, and then discover there is no political will to help fund the stadium, they'd have to slink back to St. Pete with hats in hand" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/26).
