One more vote to keep the Rays downtown
First, Mayor Rick Baker gave a new downtown baseball stadium his seal of approval.
Now, City Council Member Leslie Curran is coming out in support of a downtown stadium, that is as long as the Tampa Bay Rays stay exactly where there are now.
Curran, who was in Europe two weeks ago when Baker and team officials announced they were indefinitely delaying a waterfront stadium proposal, said Tropicana Field is her number one choice for a new ball park.
"They completely underestimated this community and their love for the waterfront," said Curran of team executives in a phone interview Tuesday. "We really need to look at the possibility of rebuilding at the site that we already have."
She added, "But I'm open to see what other possibilities are out there."
Curran, who first asked the Rays to delay their stadium proposal in June, said she was thrilled by the team's recent announcement that Progress Energy CEO Jeff Lyash would head up a community-based coalition charged with figuring out where the new stadium should go.
"That’s how we should have done it to begin with," she said.
The Tampa Bay Rays continue to pursue plans for a new baseball stadium. Host 
"But I'm open to see what other possibilities are out there"
That is the key. Being open.
Posted by: Observer | July 08, 2008 at 02:23 PM
coulda shoulda woulda
Yes Tropicana site with supplicant subsidy bearing staff and impotent voters would have been IDEAL and highly likely BEFORE extortion waterfront stadium attempt.
Now NO subsidies and free COUNTY LAND are the only palatable political outcome.
Remember the pretty pictures of urgently needed retail and promises of urgently needed tropicana tax revenue:how can the Rays backtrack on that now?
Posted by: since1962 | July 08, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Yes, being open. Just like Charlie Crist.
Posted by: Kyle | July 08, 2008 at 05:39 PM
too bad you don't have a vote on the trop site 1962
Theres no rererendum needed there. Hillsborough splits their bedtax between the lightning Bucs, and the freaking Yankees. You think that no subsidies is the only path. Thats a joke. Free county land is only free because it will cost you more in the long run. Al Lang is free too so theres no aurgument there.
Whats wrong with the Trop site anyways.
Posted by: next round | July 08, 2008 at 11:23 PM
you're as deaf as rays and politicans
next...
tropicana needed for retail and tax revenue ACCORDING TO CITY AND RAYS.
NO room for stadium too.
Boxed THEMSELVES into that little corner with the fantasy finances of first attempt
No vote REQUIREMENT does not mean EXCEPTIONALLY stupid politicans.
Posted by: since1962 | July 09, 2008 at 12:28 AM
Wewould laugh even more than we do at the fringe posters, if they weren't so scary.but
Posted by: Rick K | July 10, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Laugh at the DCP designation for Al Lang this AM.
Or the detailed,lengthy "consent" agenda
Cowering politicans did some blustering aimed at Howard but only after magnifing glass was turned toward the agenda lest the peasants continue to approach with pitchforks.
Posted by: since1962re laughing Ricky | July 10, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Go to Tropicanafield.com and vote for place to call Rays new home..
Posted by: chris | July 15, 2008 at 07:45 PM
I've heard Vegas is offering incentives now that housing forclosures reaching records?
Oh no perhaps we should dredge another lake and create land for stadium?
Worked for Jabil!
Posted by: | July 15, 2008 at 09:25 PM