Tampa Bay Rays respond to Pinellas commissioner’s letter on stadium deal

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The president of the Tampa Bay Rays has sent a response letter to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners following the letter to the baseball team last week.

On Nov. 25, Kathleen Peters, chairwoman of the Pinellas County Commission, sent a letter to Ray officials saying that county needs a response from them by Dec. 1 on whether they intend to commit to a new $1.3 billion ballparkor if they walk away from the store.

Rays stadium deal up in the air, county asks for clarity on deal

In the letter, Peters said, “In light of recent events, conversations and correspondence, it has become imperative that clarity be achieved regarding the status of the Tampa Bay Rays Stadium Development and Funding Agreement. I am asking you to officially explain your intent regarding this agreement and if you intends to see it become a reality.”

On Saturday, Rays president Matt Silverman responded, claiming commissioners made “incorrect comments” regarding the new ballpark agreements. He argued that the decision to temporarily house the team in Tampa actually complies with the non-relocation agreement, given that the hurricane damage is forcing them to look outside of Pinellas County.

Below is the full response letter sent by Silverman:

Dear Pinellas County Chairman Peters,
We are writing in response to your letter to Auld and myself dated November 25, 2024.

We disagree with the characterization of the conversation between Commissioner Scott and Brian Auld. The conversation focused primarily on the short-term challenges to our business given the damage to Tropicana Field as well as the dynamics associated with the location of our home games in 2025. Brian Auld did not waver from our commitment to the new ballpark project.

In that regard, it is worth correcting some erroneous comments made by Commissioner Latvala that our decision to play at Steinbrenner Field is inconsistent with the basis of our new ballpark agreements. The new non-relocation agreement states that, in the event of a Force Majeure that requires a temporary relocation, the team must “use commercially reasonable, diligent and good faith efforts to cause an alternate location where Team Home Games are played pursuant to Section 2.2(c) shall be located in Pinellas County, Florida in the first instance and if an alternate location is not available in Pinellas County, then Hillsborough County, Florida, in each case subject to the availability there of an alternate location with sufficient venue capacity that complies with MLB rules and regulations and the need to obtain MLB approval to play at an alternate
location.” Our criteria and processes for selecting Steinbrenner Field are fully consistent with the spirit of this agreement.

When it comes to honoring the spirit of the new ballpark agreements, it’s Pinellas County, not the Rays, who fall short. At the Nov. 19 meeting, Crowell indicated that when the Pinellas County Commission meets in late October, he expects a simple up or down vote
on the supplemental bond resolution and did not expect any type of delay. The matter had been reviewed without debate at a workshop five days earlier. It was supposed to be a simple administrative measure.

Although, as a technical matter, the agreements provide for longer external dates for a variety of conditions to be met, the Rays have always made it clear that the viability of the project was dependent on having certainty of project approval and funding before 2024
November election. The Rays were willing to move the project forward for delivery in 2028 knowing that Pinellas County’s final approval would come before the election. We would not have moved forward with the project if a future Pinellas County Commission had the ability to revoke
the approval we all celebrated in July or to unilaterally delay the completion of the project until 2029.

In response to your question about the status of the various agreements, they are valid until one party terminates or the out date is reached. The Rays have met their obligations to date and continue to await decisions and action from the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.

Matt Silverman, president, Tampa Bay Rays