Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said that part of her confidence in keeping the Rays in the region comes from her "increasing comfort with the idea of the team playing half the season in Montreal," according to Frago & Dawson of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Castor said, "If you look at it from the perspective of baseball, the in-person attendance is dropping nationwide while TV is going up. When people are watching baseball on TV, they could have the two media contracts. And then you don't have 81 games, which is difficult for even the most hardcore baseball fans to attend. So, you know, let them explore it. It's something new." Frago & Dawson noted Castor has had "several informal discussions" with Rays co-Presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman since St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman "closed the door on the split-season concept" two weeks ago. The Rays' use agreement with St. Petersburg expires at the end of the '27 season, and Castor said discussions were within the "2028 arena." Still, she said that it "would be 'more than likely' the team would seek to work out a settlement" with St. Petersburg to "shorten the contract if things work out across the bay in Tampa." Frago & Dawson noted in the previous effort to "woo the Rays," Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan was the "point person" in negotiations. Hagan and County Administrator Mike Merrill now "plan to arrange a meeting with the Rays sometime in January" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/18).
