It's 9 a.m. Here's what I know

Here's what I'm hearing:

• The city is preparing to announce the creation of some type of committee to explore potential locations for a new stadium. Progress Energy boss Jeff Lyash may be named the chair.
• The Archstone bid may be not for nothing. It is entirely possible and in fact likely, that the city will still continue to pursue both a full and partial redevelopment (with a new stadium) of Tropicana Field. (There is no real legal recourse for the developers, by the way).
• The debate most likely will turn with what to do with Al Lang. As you may remember, the City Council was pretty clear in saying it's not going to let the electorate make land use planning decisions for the city. The city has said it would perform a visioning process for that site.
• On a referendum, a stadium not on the waterfront will not require a referendum. Before the Rays announced their plans for a waterfront ballpark, every public official I spoke with said any new ballpark plan would have to be approved by referendum. In the last month or so, everyone's talk became much more muddled.
• The new stadium will now likely fall to the next mayor, not Rick Baker. If Kathleen Ford (who said she's not running) would become mayor, that's really bad news for the Rays. The team's new best friends may be Bill Foster, Jamie Bennett, Ken Welch or anyone else who seems interested in helping the Rays get a new stadium --- but under the "right" circumstances.

Comments

[Clear Direction]

Aaron,

These are listed as things that you KNOW.

How do you KNOW that if Kathleen Ford was mayor that it would be bad for the Ray's

I am aware that this is only a blog but, as a reporter shouldn't you separate your editorial comments from what are represented as facts?

[John]

Looks like the Mayors race just got a new wrinkle.

I look forward to any debate the candidates have about this issue. I'll be watching closely.

Aaron have the Rays set a time or day (today) for a press conference to make this announcement?

Have the Times interviewed anyone with Archstone for their take on this yet?

[Bobby Fenton]

Aside from the waterfront, St. Pete lacks a fitting site for the new ballpark. Absent the waterfront, which the residents don't seem to want, Feather Sound or somewhere in Tampa ought to be considered.

[Aaron Sharockman]

Clear-
I'm not going to have an argument with you. But I've have spoken to Kathleen and have heard her speak several times.

She describes the prospect of giving the Rays a corporate subsidy as "irresponsible" and "malfeasance."

She also said to me, "We’ve got a liot bigger fish to fry in the city of St. Pete than a new stadium."

And then this one:
"I expect these guys will be back year after year. We’re going to continue to say no, no no."

If you think that's "good" for the Rays, we live on a different planet.

[Clear and Present Danger]

I like Kathleen's approach.
Just say "no" to sports teams and take that money and slap some new coats of green paint on all the park benches.

Better for a few winos to have a nice, clean place to sleep than to partner with our only pro sports team in the city.

[Clear Direction]

Aaron,

Not trying to start an argument, just trying to separate facts from supposition.

Especialliy since your headline catagorized them as know facts.

Also, I am not sure what the relevancy is since Kathleen has repeatedly stated that she will not be running for mayor. Just seemed like a cheap personal shot to me.

That of course, is just supposition on my part.

[Aaron Sharockman]

Or it might get her a lot of votes should she run. I hope you don't forget that the Rays are delaying their plans because they know the electorate seems pretty clearly opposed to them.

[Chris Jenkins]

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I don't see any reason for victory dancing. This process did not begin overnight, and will not end as quickly.

[Ray F]

Aaron,

Do you think Kathleen Ford would actually use the fact that she is against the Rays new stadium as a campaign platform if she does decide to run???

Obviously, she would lock down 100% of the votes from Americana Cove MHP.

[Bobby Fenton]

Did Kathleeen Ford actually say those things? That is unbelievable. She talks about irresponsible. It is irresponsible for any member of local government charged with the betterment of their area to be so negative, close-minded, and cavalier about something so important. This woman is a menace, and if she is re-elected to anything it says more about the voters of St. Pete than any referendum would.

[Paul]

Bobby Fenton - as a Tampa resident who has stated on other blogs that you only visit St. Pete to attend Rays games....please GO AWAY!

There are many other people who are more qualified than you to say whether there are additional locations in St. Pete that are suitable.

[Mal]

Bobby, Kathleen is a private citizen who in the past was a member of the city council. Curious that a Aaron would drag her into this. Kinda like their editorial rants against Karl Nurse(hmmm maybe karl for mayor).By the way Bobby welcome to Planet St Pete.

[Native]

Mal, Ford threw herself into this as a main member of poww....

[RFN]

The City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County had 9 separate voter referendums regarding taxes/public financing of a new stadium to replace Three Rivers. (Actually two stadiums to replace one multi-purpose).

9 times they voted NO.

Eventually, the power brokers realized that the local tax payers weren't going to give in, so they went to the state legislature. The state ponied up. Both stadiums opened in 2001.

When Jeffrey Lurie bought the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994, he stated that a new stadium was "essential." When Pittsburgh got new stadiums courtesy of state taxpayers, he and the Phillies owner stepped forward with their hand out. Lo and behold, both Philadelphia teams got new stadiums in 2004. They broke ground on Citizen's Bank (Phillies) and Lincoln Financial (Eagles) a couple of months before the Pittsburgh stadiums opened. It took the Eagles owner 10 years to get something he deemed "essential."

This will play on for several years, certainly through the economic downturn that we are in. What happens in Miami is also going to have an impact on the Rays.

FLORIDIANS & second homeowners in the state JUST BESHEECHED POLITICANS enmass in MULTIPLE meetings across the state regarding TAXES(ammendment 1) and WILL NOT ALLOW STATE FUNDING AS YOU DESCRIBE...
nor will local voters allow a stadium to be built WITHOUT VOTER REFERENDUM REGARDLESS OF LOCATION THANKS TO THE RAYS... local politicans KNOW THIS.

[Bobby Fenton]

Paul-

As a proud Tampa resident, I do not get to vote in any St. Petersburg or Pinellas County elections. That is true.

That has absolutely nothing to do with my estimation of what a good site for a ballpark is. First of all, it's only my opinion, and second of all, I don't answer to you or anyone else in St. Pete. I've been there before. It's not like I've never seen the city. I am simply saying that you shouldn't throw down a ballpark just anywhere. This goes for Tampa or any other city too. There aren't many places here that I would want it. That's all I was saying.

Mal was right, welcome to Planet St. Pete - sheesh.

[Tampa sucks]

We don't care about your opinions Bobby Fenton. People from Tampa don't patronize Rays games en'masse, so they indeed have no say in what WE decide to do with the Rays as a city.

Go whine on the Tribune blogs.

[Bobby Fenton]

See, people like Paul and this other guy in the post above are exactly the problem. The reason we laugh at you is that so many of you are so damn defensive. You act like anyone from Tampa is the devil, and that the two papers are exclusively for the respective citizens of each side of the bay only. That's ridiculous. You may hate Tampa (and believe me, none of us could care any less, it's not humanly possible), but the Rays don't hate Tampa and they sure as hell know they need Tampa. You want to shut it all down and build a wall up in your xenophobic little bizarro community over there, but if you really love your city you should want to do what's best, and that's finding a way to work with the team, not against it. St. Pete is crazy if they run these guys off. There are a lot of new possibilities that will open up now with the announcement coming up this afternoon. Quit being a d-bag and try to see the forest through the trees for once.

[Bobby Fenton]

And for the record, I go to games all the time, almost certainly more than most of the posters here, if I were to take a guess.

[Ray F]

not me Bobby.

But I agree with you, so we won't get into that discussion. ;-)

[Tampa sucks]

Oh and Bobby Fenton: The chances of Tampa getting the team are about as likely as Arcadia getting them.

You Tampons can't even afford to maintain your infrustructure over there. South Tampa is a perpetual flood zone, and just about every street in the entire city is pitted with potholes and cracked pavement.

Perhaps Tampa could spend a little cash fixing up your infrustructure before Supertbowl, so you don't look like a 3rd world city instead of worrying about landing our baseball team that you guys can't afford, either.

[Bobby Fenton]

"(Tampa) indeed has no say in what WE decide to do with the Rays as a city"

Stop acting like the team is your birthright. You didn't do anything.

You also need to realize that you don't get to decide what to do "with the Rays". You may or may not end up getting to vote on something land use or stadium related. However, I'm pretty sure the owners are the ones who get to decide what to do with the Rays, and they have much more flexibility and many more options than you give them credit for. St. Pete gives itself so muich credit, but what have the people today really done? If the Trop had gone to a vote back in the 80's, that never would have made it either. You're lucky enough to have the team, and if you're dumb enough to screw it up, that affects all of us in the entire area, not just you.

[Dan Sileo]

Of course you go to games all the time ... you're a media wh0re just like me!
Only difference is that I will only drive over to see the Rays if my Yankees are in town. Hell, I live in Orlando and I don't even go to the Magic games!

GO CANES

GO YANKEES

[Thomas]

Fenton - I don't think St. Pete is screwing anything up. The Rays have every reason to be in the Bay area for a long long time. Negotiation for a new stadium can continue including an appropriate contribution from the team and a fair deal for the taxpayers.

Dan Sillyo - my favorite Yankee is Thurman Munson. I hope more of the New York players have a career like him!

[Paul (since november 07)]

Just to clarify, there's a 'new' Paul on here today, offending Bobby and Tampa. This is not me, the Paul who is against that stadium and prefers to offend the likes of Rick.

The blogs have gone wild. Geeze.

I'm somewhat concerned now that we can't officially kill this deal in November. What's next for Al Lang? Just what is the 'visioning process' that Council wants? I recall Danner mentioning that a few months back but what is it?? I thought that was already done and Council was going to fix the 'glitch ordinance'. Any updates from the City or dare I even ask, our silent Mayor? Hey, I just thought, once Baker's term is over he can star in silent movies, haha! He's the perfect guy, as he doesn't speak.

[Bobby Fenton]

Believe me, Paul, nobody has said anything that's offended me.

[ReyL]

I am having the hardest time trying to understand what all the opposition of the stadium is about. Do you, the residents of St. Pete, understand that if you do not approve this stadium, the Rays will be leaving town. I have lived in this county for 25 years and I remember what St. Pete used to be like. You didn't go downtown because it was dangerous and offered nothing. Then baseball came to town and the city was helped in revitalizing downtown. St. Pete became a major league city that people wanted to be a part of. Once the Rays leave, this city will be on the fast track back to nowhere. The Rays have said they will help with the cost of the stadium. There will not be any more taxes used to build this either. It will add new money to the tax rolls and help to keep up real estate prices, as major league cities attract businesses and jobs. Also, the redevelopment of the Trop will bring in a large influx of outside money and jobs as Archstone works to build the new structures. Once the Rays leave, please don't kid yourselves and think that someone else is going to want to carry through with the current plans for the Trop site. I love to go out in downtown St. Pete and think this would be such a huge boon to the shops, restaurants and business owners that I am dumbfounded that anyone is opposed. I don't know why we don't take this opportunity to work with the Rays and provide all of us with a new stadium that will give everyone in St. Pete and Tampa Bay a beautiful, defining land mark that we can all be proud of for years to come.

[Peace]

Aaron, bringing your editorial opinions in about Kathleen Ford is a low, low cheap shot. You need to stick to your job buddy. Try just to report facts. Your fairness and objectivity on this issue sinks everytime you stoop to such a cheap shot. Mrs. Ford has served this community as a responsible citizen, mother, attorney and yes a council member. Last time I checked SHE WAS ELECTED BY A LOT OF FOLKS. So quit trying to demonize her.

Booby Fenton: Please, please go away. You make no sense and are wasting my St. Pete time reading your dribble.

[Thomas]

Yes Rey!

If a stadium doesn't get built the whole city will just fall into the Gulf. Gone forever simply because no stadium was built. Literally, just slide right into the water.

Boom - Outta Here.

[Native]

peace, last time I checked Ford was not elected by A LOT of people

[John]

Glad I just got my boat serviced, Thomas...I'd better start packing supplies on it. Guess I'll leave my green bench behind, it can become a reef for tropical fish!!

I wonder if the Trop floats?

[Mike]

Actually, that racist Ford was beaten down by our current mayor in 2000. Besides, a blog is, by definition, editorial in nature. Get over yourself.

[ReyL]

The city of St Pete will still stand, just not the same way it has been for the past decade or so. There is a lot to be said about having a pro sports team, fan or no fan. Without the Rays, St Pete is just like other hot spots like Ft. Worth, IN and Plano, TX. Do you really want to be like Ft. Worth?

[Thomas]

Yes, if the Rays were to leave (which they cant until 2027 anyway) the team would take the beaches, the gulf, the bay, and the sunshine with them!

St. Pete would instantly be transformed into a land locked city in Texas with no cultural attractions.

I see it all so clearly now. Thanks Rey for helping me understand that Sports are the only thing that matter in life!

[ReyL]

The beaches, gulf, bay and sunshine were there since St. Pete became a city. If that is all it takes, why was the city lacking so much in the 70's and 80's?

Do you really think there is no way the Rays could get out of there lease with the city? It is pretty easy to find examples throughout pro sports of teams breaking their "ironclad" leases.

Look, I'm not here to try and personally bash anyone. I just think a lot of people here are against this without giving it any good thought. I want everyone to think hard about about what life would be like without the Rays.

There's a reason why cities like Charlotte, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, and even St. Pete back in the 70's and 80's, want these teams and are willing to build stadiums and arenas with public money. It puts your city on the map. It helps the local economy. It brings an awareness nationally that helps to attract large, national corporations and their jobs. You remove the Rays and we are Corpus Christi, TX. They too have the gulf, beaches and sunshine just like St Pete.