City of St. Petersburg: The Rays will not split their season with Montreal

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https://www.draysbay.com/2019/12/4/20995688/tampa-bay-rays-stadium-montreal-memorandum-split-season

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TAMPA BAY STADIUM SAGA

City of St. Petersburg: The Rays will not split their season with Montreal

New Memorandum answers three important questions about the Rays’ future, but raises many more.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has released a Memorandum to the public clarifying the current state of the Rays stadium saga, with three important messages, chief of which is that ownership’s proposal for a split season with Montreal is dead.

Here is the letter in full:

Noah Pransky
✔
@noahpransky
 BREAKING: #StPete & @RaysBaseball breaking off negotiations, per this letter from Mayor @Kriseman. Split-season proposal is dead unless #Rays want to explore it post-2027.

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Here are the most important takeaways:

1. The Montreal Split-Season Proposal is dead (for now)

Last June, the principle owner of the Rays, Stuart Sternberg, made a public proposal for the Rays to split their season with the city of Montreal, a shocking turn of events both in substance and timing.

In issuing the above Memorandum, Mayor Kriseman is effectively killing the split city proposal after less than six months of negotiation with the team.

2. The Rays declined an opportunity to re-open an immediate ballpark search in Tampa Bay

Previously, the Rays had received long-sought permission to pursue a new stadium in the Tampa Bay area through a memorandum of understanding between the team and City of St. Petersburg. The search was limited to three years, and ended with the Rays selecting a location in Ybor City but without a deal in place.

Importantly, this MOU allowed the Rays to build a new stadium and break their lease with the City prior to its expiration in 2028.

Unfortunately, politicians in Hillsborough County, who had to operate on the Rays behalf due to restrictions in the “use agreement” for Tropicana Field (which functions as its lease), were unable to line up financial commitments, local business support, or even the purchase of the property itself.

The individual in charge of the County’s negotiations is now under investigation by the FBI over land deals, including his handling of the potential Rays stadium site.

3. The Rays will be allowed to search for a new ballpark in any location for the 2028 season

The current “use agreement” has language that appears to restrict the Rays from searching for a stadium location outside St. Petersburg, FL until the agreement expires in 2028, but Mayor Kriseman seems to be conveying that the City will not seek to enforce this language:

“Both parties have agreed that the best path forward is to abide by the existing use agreement with the understanding that the agreement allows for the Rays Organization to explore post-2027 split or full season opportunities, both in St. Petersburg and elsewhere.”

This may be the most important news of all. The Rays have consistently advocated for the freedom to explore stadium locations due to the several years it will require to build a new stadium in a new location. In other words, the Rays cannot reasonably wait until 2028 to begin a stadium project.

By not being restricted by the two counties and negotiation restrictions of the previous MOU, the Rays will now be able to leverage any city’s interest in having a baseball team — be that Tampa, Montreal, Brooklyn, Portland, or anywhere else — as they search for a new home for the 2028 season as they advocate for their own interests.

Previously:

Rays receive permission from MLB to explore two-city solution with Montreal
What the Montreal, Two-City proposal means for St. Petersburg and the Rays
Why are the Rays proposing a two-city solution?
Recapping the Rays Montreal Split-City Proposal press conference
Everything we have learned about the Montreal proposal

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https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/kriseman-holding-rays-tropicana-field-lease-preparing-possible-departure-after-2027

Kriseman Holding Rays To Tropicana Field Lease, Preparing For Possible Departure After 2027

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman says he’s prepared to redevelop the current Tropicana Field site once the Tampa Bay Rays’ lease expires in 2027. FLICKR

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman says he’s prepared to redevelop the current Tropicana Field site once the Tampa Bay Rays’ lease expires in 2027.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon on Facebook, Kriseman said the city and the Rays “have concluded” discussions about Rays owner Stuart Sternberg’s idea of splitting the baseball season between St. Petersburg and Montreal.

Kriseman said he will hold the Rays to its lease obligation, meaning the team is bound to St. Petersburg until 2027. After that, though, he’s prepared to see the Rays relocate and develop the current Tropicana Field site.

“I continue to believe that the Rays organization will come to determine that the Tampa Bay area, and specifically St. Pete, remains the best place to play baseball 81 days a year and to succeed in the long-term,” Kriseman said in the statement. “The growth and vibrancy in the Sunshine City, and particularly in the area surrounding Tropicana Field, signals a bright future for that site.”

In a follow-up statement posted to Facebook, Kriseman said he would not entertain a split-season with Montreal.

"We are not a part-time city. We are not a part-time region," Kriseman said. "We are a Major League community. No one can doubt St. Pete and Tampa Bay's trajectory."

Kriseman reiterated the city’s stance that it is willing to discuss long-term stadium options for the Rays, although “we will not contribute public dollars to construct a stadium for a part-time team,” referring to Sternberg’s plan to split the season between St. Petersburg and Montreal.

“As such, with no imminent discussions pending regarding a new stadium for a full-time team, we will begin to evaluate our next steps in redeveloping at least parts of the site following additional public engagement,” Kriseman said.

Kriseman said the team began to consider alternate stadium sites 12 years ago, the latest being an $892 million site in Ybor City – the plans of which fell through last December.

He also said the team “declined my offer, made in the spirit of regionalism,” to explore other stadium options – including Tampa and Hillsborough County.

Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg issued a response Wednesday evening: “We agree generally with Mayor Kriseman’s characterization of our months of conversations, though we would like to clarify two points.

"First, we do not agree that this is the best path forward. Second, we asked for the opportunity to explore this concept with both St. Petersburg and Montreal, and with Tampa and Montreal," it said.

“We recognize that we must now consider our post-2027 options and all that entails, and we remain steadfast in our belief that the Sister City concept is deserving of serious consideration.”

Tampa Bay Rays
✔
@RaysBaseball
 A statement from Rays Principal Owner Stu Sternberg.

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This is a developing story. Stay with WUSF for updates.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/12/04/kriseman-rays-end-negotiations-over-split-montreal.html

Kriseman, Rays end negotiations over split Montreal season

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman in front of Tropicana Field

The Tampa Bay Rays and the city of St. Petersburg have ended negotiations around splitting the season between Tampa Bay and Montreal — and it won't be an option before the 2028 season.

"Both parties have agreed that the best path forward is to abide by the existing use agreement with the understanding that the agreement allows for the Rays Organization to explore post-2027 split or full season opportunities both in St. Petersburg and elsewhere," Mayor Rick Kriseman wrote in a memo to St. Pete City Council on Wednesday.

The end of those negotiations could mean the end of professional baseball in Tampa Bay. When Rays owner Stuart Sternberg pitched the idea of splitting the season with another city in June, he said that if the concept did not come to fruition, it was "highly unlikely" the team would remain in Tampa Bay beyond 2027, when its lease at Tropicana Field ends.

It also means the beginning of a major real estate development: Kriseman said in his memo that the city will begin to explore the next steps for redeveloping the 85-acre Trop site — arguably one of the most attractive infill sites in the Southeastern U.S. — after additional public input.

"While the city of St. Petersburg is willing to discuss contributing to the funding for a new stadium for a full-time team here in St. Petersburg, we will not contribute public dollars to construct a stadium for a part-time team," Kriseman wrote.

Kriseman said the team declined his offer to renew the memorandum of understanding that allowed the team to explore a full-time stadium in Hillsborough County.

The Rays issued a statement in response to Kriseman's memo:

“We agree generally with Mayor Kriseman’s characterization of our months of conversations, though we would like to clarify two points. First, we do not agree that this is the best path forward. Second, we asked for the opportunity to explore this concept with both St. Petersburg and Montreal, and with Tampa and Montreal. “We recognize that we must now consider our post-2027 options and all that entails, and we remain steadfast in our belief that the Sister City concept is deserving of serious consideration.”

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/12/04/raymond-james-stadium-to-add-seating-for.html

Raymond James Stadium to add seating for WrestleMania, expected to exceed Super Bowl attendance

Tampa Bay is gearing up for the main event.

The long-awaited WrestleMania event, set for April 5, 2020, is now projected to have the largest crowd in the history of Raymond James Stadium.

“We’re setting the capacity at the highest we’ve ever set,” said Tampa Sports Authority President and CEO Eric Hart during the board's Tuesday meeting.

World Wrestling Entertainment’s (NYSE: WWE) event will compel the stadium to add roughly 13,000 seats on the floor as well as more bleacher seating. Some upper deck seating will be closed off due to the needs for lighting and other effects. The Tampa Sports Authority manages Raymond James Stadium.

Tampa Bay has established a proven track record in recent years for its ability to host major events. This will be first time the WrestleMania annual series has been hosted here.

Hart told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that with the added capacity in the floor, the crowd will exceed attendance for the Super Bowl, which will have a packed house of 75,000. The stadium's official capacity is 65,890.

Over the past 12 years, WrestleMania has generated more than $1.2 billion in cumulative economic impact for cities, WWE said.

In 2017, WrestleMania 33 generated $181.5 million in economic impact for the Orlando region. In 2018, the event was held in New Orleans, and last April, WrestleMania 35 was held in New Jersey.

The event in Tampa will attract fans across the U.S. and throughout more than 50 countries. Tampa is expecting to see 40,000 to 50,000 rooms nights generated for the future event, Tampa Bay Sports Commission Executive Director Rob Higgins previously said.

The Super Bowl generates more than WrestleMania when it comes to economic impact, but WWE's comparable figures in attendance and ad revenue makes it a huge economic driver, according to a 2017 Forbes report.

Super Bowl LV in February 2021 is projected to generate 95,000 hotel visitor room nights in Tampa.

The last Super Bowl was hosted in Atlanta and had a $400 million economic impact; it is America’s largest televised sporting event.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/12/04/report-tampa-among-best-tech-cities-for-it-jobs-in.html

Report: Tampa among best tech cities for IT jobs in the nation

A recent report by CompTIA, a nonprofit technology trade association, ranked Tampa among the top 20 best cities for information technology jobs in the U.S.

To compile the rankings, CompTIA looked at the cities with populations over 250,000 that had the most job postings for tech jobs between August 2018 and July 2019. From there, the top cities were ranked by their cost of living, number of postings for open IT positions and projected job growth over the next year and next five years.

Tampa ranked as the 19th best tech city, one spot behind Jacksonville, the only other Florida city to make the top 20. The Big Guava ranked high because of its 6 percent projected job growth over the next five years. The city also had 43,151 tech openings in the last year, which affirms a recent report by Burning Glass, which found Tampa was among the top markets looking for tech talent.

“It’s no surprise to me Tampa ranks in the top 20 on this list,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement. “Tampa is a city on the move, a city full of visionaries, entrepreneurs, innovators and some of the world’s most creative thought leaders.”

The report also listed the top companies hiring in every city, which includes Citi, Raymond James Financial, Verizon Communications and JPMorgan Chase for Tampa. The city also boasts a median starting salary of $79,553, the report said.

The top 10 tech cities included:

Austin, Texas
Raleigh, North Carolina
San Jose, California
Seattle
San Francisco
Charlotte, North Carolina
Dallas
Atlanta
Denver
Huntsville, Alabama

Read the full report here.

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https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/openings-closings/article/21104097/new-burger-culture-location-is-now-open-in-ybor-city

New Burger Culture location is now open in Ybor City

The build-your-own burger concept has hit the brick streets.

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https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/food/2019/12/04/a-guide-to-tampa-bay-food-and-drink-events-this-weekend/

A guide to Tampa Bay food and drink events this weekend

The Tampa Bay Repeal Day Gala in Ybor City, Largo’s Death by Chocolate, canning classes at the Fairgrounds, St. Pete’s Plant-Based Popup Dinner and more.

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https://www.statesman.com/sports/20191204/soccer-notebook-before-mls-board-meeting-austin-fc-owners-had-their-own-retreat

Soccer notebook: Before MLS board meeting, Austin FC owners had their own retreat

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https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/12/04/daktronics-tops-billing-of-louisville-city-fcs-stadium-build-with-eight-led-displays/

Daktronics Tops Billing of Louisville City FC’s Stadium Build With Eight LED Displays

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https://www.valleybreeze.com/2019-12-03/pawtucket/officials-400-million-project-just-what-doctor-ordered#.XeiRadDPwV0

Officials: $400 million project just what the doctor ordered

A rendering shows the view of what the TIDEWATER LANDING PROJECT could look like looking up the Seekonk River toward I-95, with a planned new soccer stadium shown at left.

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/12/04/inter-miami-cfs-fort-lauderdale-stadium-time-mls-home-opener

Inter Miami CF's Fort Lauderdale Stadium "on time" for MLS home opener

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http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/report-mls-on-verge-of-awarding-charlotte-next-expansion-slot

Report: MLS on verge of awarding Charlotte next expansion slot

David Tepper set to break record for entry fee.

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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2019/12/inter-miami-and-nashville-sc-focus-on-mls-experience.html

INTER MIAMI AND NASHVILLE SC FOCUS ON MLS EXPERIENCE

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https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/panthers-leaders-to-attend-mls-meeting-in-new-york/1015532458

Panthers leaders to attend MLS meeting in New York

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https://www.statesman.com/sports/20191204/soccer-notebook-before-mls-board-meeting-austin-fc-owners-had-their-own-retreat

Soccer notebook: Before MLS board meeting, Austin FC owners had their own retreat

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https://uk.style.yahoo.com/rays-weird-splitseason-proposal-with-montreal-is-officially-dead-210509747.html

Rays' weird split-season proposal with Montreal dead for now

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https://news.yahoo.com/tampa-bay-rays-st-petersburg-230651371.html

Tampa Bay Rays, St. Petersburg leaders break off negotiations about team's 'shared season' concept in Montreal

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https://www.bradenton.com/sports/mlb/tampa-bay-rays/article238042019.html

Talks about sharing the Tampa Bay Rays with Montreal are over, says St. Pete mayor

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https://953wdae.iheart.com/featured/florida-news/content/2019-12-04-st-pete-mayor-says-no-deal-to-share-rays-before-2028/

St. Pete Mayor Says No Deal to Share Rays Before 2028

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https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28225506/st-pete-rays-end-talks-sharing-team-home-slate-montreal

St. Pete, Rays end talks of sharing team's home slate with Montreal

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https://www.wtsp.com/video/sports/mlb/rays/mayor-rick-kriseman-says-no-to-rays-split-season/67-7c21f323-a633-4d88-8d9b-1d189aea63cb

Mayor Rick Kriseman says no to Ray's split season

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/12/04/tampa-bay-rays-montreal-split-season-bid-dead-for-now-kriseman-says/

Rick Kriseman kills Rays’ plan to split season in Montreal. Now what?

St. Petersburg’s mayor said he won’t give the Rays permission to explore playing in both Tampa Bay and Montreal. The team would become a free agent franchise after 2027.

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https://stpetecatalyst.com/rays-kriseman-end-talks-on-shared-season-city-plans-next-steps-in-trop-site-redevelopment/

Rays, Kriseman end talks on ‘shared season,’ city plans next steps in Trop site redevelopment

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https://stockdailydish.com/las-vegas-officials-to-attend-mls-all-star-week/

Las Vegas officials to attend MLS All-Star Week

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/12/04/inter-miami-add-goalkeeping-depth-sign-john-mccarthy

Inter Miami add to goalkeeping depth, sign John McCarthy

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing

Inter Miami have signed goalkeeper John McCarthy, the club announced Wednesday. The move comes two days after the club inked free agent GK Luis Robles.

McCarthy, 27, played four seasons for the Philadelphia Union from 2015 to 2018, making 21 appearances. Last season he featured for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship, where he had 10 clean sheets over 29 appearances.

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/expansion/miami/inter-miami-cf-sign-goalkeeper-john-mccarthy/

MIAMI

Inter Miami CF sign goalkeeper John McCarthy

The former 2014 USL Goalkeeper of the Year and Rookie of the Year joins Luis Robles and Bryan Meredith on the goalkeeper depth chart

Sep 23, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Union goalkeeper John McCarthy (1) looks for the ball during the second half against Sporting Kansas City at Talen Energy Stadium. (Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)

Inter Miami CF added to their goalkeeping corps by signing John McCarthy, the club announced Wednesday.

The Cinnaminson, New Jersey native returns to MLS, having played with the Philadelphia Union from 2015-2018. After a loan spell to USL Championship affiliate Bethlehem Steel FC, McCarthy spent the 2019 season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“With John we are adding more talented depth to Inter Miami,” Inter Miami CF sporting director Paul McDonough said in a statement. “We feel his experience in the USL and MLS will be valuable to our Club.”

The 27 year-old played 29 regular season games with the Rowdies last season, notching 10 clean sheets. With Steel FC, McCarthy also pulled 10 clean sheets from 26 appearances.

The former La Salle University goalkeeper started his professional career in the USL with the Rochester Rhinos in 2014. McCarthy received Rookie of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and All-League First Team honors for that season.

McCarthy joins goalkeepers Luis Robles, who was signed as a free agent Monday, and Bryan Meredith, selected in the MLS Expansion Draft.

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https://www.besoccer.com/new/beckham-s-inter-miami-to-play-in-eastern-conference-756242

Beckham's Inter Miami to play in Eastern Conference

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https://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/2019/12/05/cross-bay-ferry-ridership-tops-11600-in-first-month-of-new-season/

Cross-Bay Ferry ridership tops 11,600 in first month of new season

Most of the increase is tied to an additional round-trip sailing on Sundays.

The Cross-Bay Ferry cruises along the Vinoy Yacht Basin as it heads toward Tampa. The Vinoy condominiums can be seen in the background. The city hopes to attract more vessels for entertainment and tourism to the downtown waterfront.

The third season of Tampa Bay’s Cross-Bay Ferry saw ridership increase in its first month, thanks mostly to the addition of a third round-trip on Sundays.

The more than 11,600 passenger trips taken in...To continue reading, subscribe to The Tampa Bay Times.

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/12/05/get-ready-in-portland-and-nashville-the-rays-are-free-agents-in-2028/

Get ready in Portland and Nashville; the Rays are free agents in 2028

John Romano | Mayor Rick Kriseman’s decision to dismiss the shared city plan with Montreal means the Rays probably won’t get a stadium deal until their lease runs out in St. Pete in 2028.

It would help if regular season crowds were as large and enthusiastic as the American League Division Series against Houston last month. As it is, the Rays have been at the bottom of the American League in attendance for much of the past decade despite one of the highest win totals in baseball.

ST. PETERSBURG — This is gunslinger stuff. A mayor challenging a baseball owner to a high noon showdown in 2028.

The only problem is this mayor won’t be around in 2028. And there is now a real chance...

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https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/tampa-bay-rays-future-in-new-doubt-after-planned-split-season-in-montreal-is-axed/

Tampa Bay Rays’ future in new doubt after planned split-season in Montreal is axed

Tropicana Field (Credit: Getty Images)

The long-term future of the Tampa Bay Rays is again in sizable doubt after the Major League Baseball team and the City of St. Petersburg, Florida, broke off talks to explore the potential of playing a split-season schedule between the team’s home market and Montreal.

Mayor Rick Kriseman said both the Rays and city must maintain the lease that locks the team into Tropicana Field through the 2027 season. “Both parties have agreed that the best path forward is to abide by the existing use agreement,” Kriseman wrote in a memo sent to City Council. “In accordance with the existing use agreement, should the Rays Organization wish to continue exploration of the shared season concept with Montreal, that exploration must be limited to the 2028 season and beyond.”

The Rays’ two-market plan, which had been provisionally approved by MLB’s Executive Council, marked the club’s most dramatic step to date in its long-running and unsuccessful stadium search. The team currently play at the outdated Tropicana Field, and owner Stu Sternberg believes the franchise will likely not survive long term as a full-time operation in Florida.

“We never say never, but after all we’ve been through and what we’ve learned it’s highly unlikely,” Sternberg recently said of pursuing a new full-season facility in the Tampa market. “I don’t see it happening in St Petersburg and I would be hard-pressed to see it happen in Tampa as well, just given what I know.”

Notably, Kriseman also said the Rays declined an offer from St. Petersburg that would have again granted the club permission to seek a new stadium site elsewhere in the Tampa area, a proposal the mayor was made “in the spirit of regionalism.” The Rays previously had such permission, ordinarily prohibited by their Tropicana Field lease, from 2016-18 and during that time wanted to pursue a new ballpark in Tampa’s Ybor City. But the club was not able to close a deal there with local officials to fund the facility, and the permission window closed at the end of last year.

Due the club’s outdated facility in St. Petersburg, the Rays rank firmly among the league’s worst performers among numerous business metrics, notably home attendance. The Rays’ average attendance of 14,734 in 2019 was the second lowest in the majors, ahead of only the Miami Marlins, despite winning 96 games and reaching the American League Division Series. The Rays this past season also reduced Tropicana Field capacity to 25,000, lowest in the league.

The split-season plan was complicated and poised to be met with resistance for a number of reasons. The proposal included building two, new open-air stadiums, one in the Tampa Bay area and Montreal, and successfully negotiating the plan with the MLB Players Association and the City of St. Petersburg. The players also faced a wide variety of logistical and tax complications, due to the need to play and live in two countries.

It is far from clear what the Rays will do now to ensure the long-term survival of the franchise. Kriseman said the city would consider funding for a new stadium only for a full-time team in St. Petersburg.

“My door is open if the Rays want to discuss a new stadium in St. Pete. But we are not a part-time city. We are not a part-time region. We are a Major League community. No one can doubt St. Pete and Tampa Bay’s trajectory,” Kriseman tweeted.

Further reading: Falcons and Rays go cashless to take fan experience ‘to an even higher level’

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https://www.wfla.com/sports/rays/city-of-st-pete-breaks-off-split-season-talks-with-rays/

‘We are not a part-time city’: City of St. Pete breaks off split-season talks with Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – The City of St. Petersburg has broken off negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays related to a shared season proposal.

This comes following a proposed plan that would allow the team to play some home games in Montreal.

In a letter to St. Petersburg City Council, Mayor Rick Kriseman said both parties have agreed to abide by the current deal that keeps the team at Tropicana Field until after the 2027 season.

“Both parties have agreed that the best path forward is to abide by the existing use agreement with the understanding that the existing use agreement with the understanding that the agreement allows for the Rays organization to explore post-2027 split or full season opportunities, both in St. Petersburg and elsewhere.”

Mayor Kriseman added that the city of St. Petersburg will not contribute public dollars to construct a new stadium for a part-time team and is willing to discuss funding for a full-time team in St. Petersburg.

“I continue to believe that the Rays Organization will come to determine that the Tampa Bay area, and specifically St. Pete, remains the best place to play baseball and to succeed in the long term,” Kriseman said in the letter.

In a press conference Kriseman said to reporters:

“We are not a part-time city, we’re a full-time city,” Kriseman said. “Would we miss having the team? Absolutely… Can we survive without the team? Absolutely.”

Rick Kriseman
@Kriseman
 My door is open if the Rays want to discuss a new stadium in St. Pete. But we are not a part-time city. We are not a part-time region. We are a Major League community. No one can doubt St. Pete and Tampa Bay's trajectory. #SunShinesHere

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In response to the memo sent by Mayor Kriseman the Rays Principal Owner Stuart

Sternberg issued the following statement:

“We agree generally with Mayor Kriseman’s characterization of our months of conversations, though we would like to clarify two points. First, we do not agree that this is the best path forward. Second, we asked for the opportunity to explore this concept with both St. Petersburg and Montreal, and with Tampa and Montreal.

“We recognize that we must now consider our post-2027 options and all that entails, and we remain steadfast in our belief that the Sister City concept is deserving of serious consideration.”

RAYS PRINCIPAL OWNER STUART STERNBERG

Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays revealed a design for a ballpark they hoped to build in Ybor City after years of low attendance at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The new stadium deal was declared dead in December.

The Rays have suffered a steady decline in attendance for years now. Earlier this year the team attempted to draw larger crowds by offering 5,000 tickets to five home games for just $5. Only two of those games sold out.