• Loading stock data...
Monday, November 25, 2024

Rays Pressing For Quick Approval Of Stadium Deal

  • MLB club looks to stay on schedule for projected 2028 ballpark opening
  • Royals, Kansas City leaders grapple with rising angst over potential stadium deal
Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

With a long-awaited stadium deal now in place, the Tampa Bay Rays are pushing to start construction as soon as possible.

Appearing before the St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday, Rays co-president Brian Auld said the club aims to obtain all needed government approvals by March 2024 in order to preserve the planned spring 2028 opening of the new $1.3 billion ballpark.

“If we miss that opening date, this entire endeavor becomes impossible,” Auld said. “We cannot put these dates at risk along the way.”

The ballpark will be the centerpiece of a planned $6.5 billion, 86-acre mixed-use development in St. Petersburg’s Gas Plant District. The Rays will pay $700 million toward the stadium, as well as any cost overruns, while the public sector will contribute $600 million. 

The stadium project presents a key test of the Rays’ ability to draw fans, particularly following historically low attendance totals during the club’s brief playoff run this season.

Royals Angst

Another lower-revenue MLB club seeks to transform its situation with a new ballpark — but the Kansas City Royals are again in the crosshairs of local angst surrounding planned public-sector contribution toward their proposed $2 billion new stadium. 

After Jackson County, Missouri, executive Frank White was given a 48-hour deadline to respond to the Royals’ latest term-sheet offer, a memo obtained by the Kansas City Star suggested the stadium will actually cost between $4.4 billion and $6.4 billion — much of it shouldered by taxpayers when including interest and insurance costs.

That report quickly generated a public rebuke from Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas.

“Nothing I have ever seen about a new Royals stadium even remotely suggests the cost will be between $4 billion and $6 billion,” Lucas posted on X. “That would place it as one of the most expensive stadiums ever built in the history of the U.S. There are many reasons not to like a deal, but good-faith negotiations should be expected on the community’s behalf. I’m seeing anything but.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA May Be Trying to Lure Caitlin Clark to All-Star Weekend

The 2023 All-Star weekend featured the first NBA versus WNBA three-point challenge.

DirecTV-Dish Deal Is Dead, Spelling More Trouble for Pay TV

Bondholder objections undo an agreement to create the largest U.S. pay-TV distributor.

The Big Noon Debate: Will Ohio State’s Early Games Lead to Change?

The Buckeyes will end the season with seven noon ET kickoffs.

Rays $1.3B Ballpark Plans Stalled by Bond Delays, Hurricane Fallout

St. Petersburg officials vote to delay bonds for a new ballpark.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

How Non-Football Programs Are Surviving the NIL Era

0:00

Featured Today

Can an Elite Women’s Soccer School Survive the New College Sports Moneyball?

Santa Clara faces an uphill battle in the new college sports landscape.
Nov 16, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman (2) celebrates after defeating NJ/NY Gotham FC in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs semifinal match at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit:
November 22, 2024

The Washington Spirit’s Business Makeover Carried Them to the Finals

The team’s return to the NWSL championship looks a lot different from 2021.
Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
November 21, 2024

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.
Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up
November 18, 2024

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) runs the ball against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (27) and defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) during the second half at SoFi Stadium.

Eagles Selling Stakes That Value Team at Sky-High $8 Billion

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie had been exploring minority sales for months.
Sep 29, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis acknowledges a fan before the start of a game between the Raiders and the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium.
November 21, 2024

Mark Davis to Unload More of the Raiders

He’s agreed to give 15% to new owners, shortly after the Brady sale.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) smiles while answering a question Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, after an Indiana Fever practice at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
November 22, 2024

Caitlin Clark a ‘Vital’ Part of Cincinnati NWSL Bid As League Expands

The WNBA superstar has joined an NWSL expansion bid in Cincinnati.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Aaron Rodgers
November 19, 2024

Jets Clean House With Only Aaron Rodgers Remaining

Joe Douglas’s firing wasn’t a surprise, but the timing was.
Michele Kang
November 19, 2024

Michele Kang Drops Whopping $30 Million on U.S. Soccer

It’s the largest gift to the federation focused on girls and women.
November 18, 2024

Roaring to the Top: Lions Become Super Bowl Favorites for First Time

This is the first time in franchise history Detroit is favored to win the Super Bowl.
November 17, 2024

Dallas Wings Secure No. 1 WNBA Pick Projected to be Paige Bueckers

Bueckers has endorsement deals with Nike and Gatorade and an equity stake in Unrivaled.