One vote away, Pinellas County Commission has questions for Rays stadium deal

CLEARWATER — All that’s left for a Tampa Bay Rays stadium and redevelopment deal to happen is a vote of approval from the Pinellas County Commission.

For the Rays and their development partner Hines, the hardest part of getting a deal done happened last week when the St. Petersburg City Council approved a dozen agreements for a new stadium and the planned Historic Gas Plant District. Now, the Rays need at least four yes votes from seven county commissioners to have shovels in the ground early next year and a stadium ready for Opening Day 2028.

The county commission has a simpler decision that will be put to a vote Tuesday: whether to commit $312.5 million from its tourist tax chest toward a $1.37 billion stadium. Yet commissioners, who have been less publicly critical than City Council members, asked tough questions of city and county officials at a two-and-a-half hour workshop Thursday. Two skeptics emerged, one as a potential no vote.

Commissioner Dave Eggers expressed frustration at not having enough opportunities to publicly discuss the details of the deal over the past few years. He said that if he felt rushed going into the vote Tuesday, “I’m a no.”

“This is our time to make sure that we’re clear on what the ramifications of the stadium deal are and how they’re interacting with the development,” he said.

Eggers questioned the city’s sale of public land to the Rays and Hines below appraised value and if the county had enough in the coffers to pay for beach renourishment, the county’s top priority, after future hurricanes.

He also shared concerns raised by commissioner Chris Latvala, who wanted to know about Rays owner Stu Sternberg’s ability to have a done stadium and redevelopment deal only to turn around and sell the team, the development rights or both. The city and county’s negotiating consultant, David Abrams from Inner Circle Sports, said Sternberg would have the ability to do that but it would be unlikely, because there would be more economic benefit in staying in the real estate development and “controlling your front door” rather than selling it to other entities.

Latvala also asked how much the Rays’ value would increase once the stadium and redevelopment deal passes. Abrams said he didn’t know, but said he thought it would go up. Latvala also brought up how the Rays and Hines’ commitment to building affordable housing is contingent on receiving future funding from the city, county, state and federal level — a concern raised by City Council member Richie Floyd.

County administrator Barry Burton said he would follow up with commissioners individually with answers to their concerns. He stressed the economic impact the project could have on the county: $443 million in total economic output and 15,000 jobs, including construction jobs that pay livable wages.

“Whether you’re in Palm Harbor or in St. Pete or Pinellas Park, that has an economic benefit throughout the entire region and throughout Pinellas County,” Burton said.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, who spent five terms on the county commission, spoke at the meeting. He and his top officials who negotiated the deal gave a presentation and answered commissioners’ questions. Representatives from the Rays, including president Matt Silverman, were present but did not speak publicly.

“I had the pleasure of working with many of these commissioners. I know their due diligence and their way of work,” Welch said after the meeting. “I totally expected that type of question from Commissioner Eggers and others. They want to get all the facts and understand the entire picture.”

The city is contributing $287.5 million to the stadium and millions more for surrounding roads and sewers, plus selling roughly 65 acres of public land below appraised value. The Rays would pay $700 million for the stadium and all cost overruns, including in the surrounding redevelopment.

Flowers, an ally of the mayor, asked why off-site affordable housing can’t be built sooner, even though the county’s role in the deal only concerns the stadium.

“It would be really nice if they could be pushed up and moved forward,” she said. “Off site has no bearing as what happens on site.”