The Pinellas County Fee voted immediately to approve $312 million in bonds backed by proceeds from the county’s Vacationer Growth Tax. This not less than in principle places the Fuel Plant stadium deal again on observe.
The Fee’s vote was 5-2 in favor of approving the bonds. The 2 no votes have been the 2 latest commissioners, Chris Scherer and Vince Nowicki. Dave Eggers and Chris Latvala each had voted “no” on the challenge beforehand, however switched their vote immediately.
Latvala’s change of coronary heart was maybe essentially the most stunning. He had been essentially the most outspoken stadium deal opponent previous to the November election, and after November 5 he had two extra no votes that allowed him to cease the deal from transferring ahead.
Why did he change his thoughts?
Nicely in line with his assertion, Rob Manfred got here to city and made him really feel higher about every part:
MAJOR: Commissioner Latvala tells me he’s the swing vote, and can vote to approve Rays stadium bonds.
On the identical time skewers the Rays and proprietor Stu Sternberg, primarily calling for brand new possession pic.twitter.com/R8GI90bxbB
— Aaron Parseghian WTSP (@AaronParseghian) December 17, 2024
Let’s put apart for the second the laughable concept that the Glazer household is a few kind of “good company citizen” function mannequin (how a lot are Hillsborough County tax payers ponying up for the Bucs stadium?), or that Middleton and Steinbrenner, who merely have spring coaching in our space, are cheap factors of comparability. The putting observe right here is that Manfred one way or the other satisfied Latvala that this deal was in his curiosity. In his spoken remarks Latvala went farther in blasting Sternberg and spent a while expressing his hopes that the group will get bought to new homeowners.
Dave Eggers, the opposite switched vote, additionally gave a protracted checklist of issues he disliked in regards to the deal earlier than voting sure, largely after getting the assurances of the county lawyer that approving the bonds doesn’t imply the bonds are instantly issued, and that the latter step would come solely after the Rays had offered extra assurances of their dedication to the deal, together with extra totally developed plans and funding commitments.
With each the town and county now approving bond gross sales, you’d assume the Rays management can be overjoyed. Proper?
Nicely, inform me if that is what “overjoyed” feels like:
It was unsurprising to see the Commissioners acknowledge how vital the Tampa Bay Rays and our stadium growth settlement are to this neighborhood and its residents. As we’ve made clear, the County’s delay has prompted the ballpark’s completion to slip into 2029. In consequence, the price of the challenge has elevated considerably, and we can’t take up this improve alone. When the County and Metropolis want to interact, we stay prepared to resolve this funding hole collectively.”
– Tampa Bay Rays President Matt Silverman
It’s nonetheless not clear to a few of us why a one month delay pushes again the stadium completion a complete season. If that they had initially deliberate to occupy the stadium on Opening Day in 2028 couldn’t they’ve the place prepared by, say, Might of that 12 months? However at any charge, the Rays nonetheless sound offended and bitter and if their aim is to rebuild bridges with native authorities they’ve an odd approach of doing it. They sound to me like somebody who’s attempting to be so imply and unsightly that their accomplice breaks up with them, to allow them to get out of the connection with out bearing the prices of instigating the breakup.
In different phrases, we’re removed from having assurances that we’ll have a stadium or a group transferring ahead.
