St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch met with Rays officials on Monday to discuss Tropicana Field's futureGetty Images
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said that an "'important announcement' on the future of Tropicana Field is coming at the end of the month,” according to Colleen Wright of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Welch has been on a “fact-finding mission for the billion-dollar, 86-acre deal," and has “asked for more information from the two developer finalists,” Miami’s Midtown Development and Sugar Hill, a group led by S.F. developers JMA Ventures. Welch recently “tacked on a visit to Sacramento to see JMA Ventures’ work," including a "project that incorporates a sports arena.” But Welch said that he needs the Rays to “make a decision on whether the team wants to play future home games in St. Petersburg or Tampa” in order to "go before the county and ask for bed tax to finance a new ballpark.” He said that he “met with Rays President Brian Auld on Friday" and "had a meeting Monday to discuss Tropicana Field.” Welch added that the Rays "'understand' his June 30 timeline." Welch said the announcement on June 30 "will clarify" the "future of Tropicana Field" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/15).
