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October 20, 2011
Tampa: We could maybe spare $100 million for a Rays stadium
The city of Tampa has told the city's Chamber of Commerce that it could possibly pay for $100 million worth of a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium, if one were built in Tampa. Once the city's debt on the Tampa Convention Center is paid off in 2015, officials said, it could redirect the $12.5 million a year in bond payments to other downtown improvements, which could include a baseball stadium.
If that's a lot of "coulds," Tampa CFO Sonya Little drove home the point to the St. Petersburg Times: "We were very, very clear that it was no promises, no commitment." And as Noah Pransky adds, even if Tampa did come through with the money, it'd be a drop in the bucket compared to a possible $550 million stadium cost, especially if the Rays' lease with St. Petersburg has to be bought out first.
Still, bidding has got to start somewhere, and it looks like the Rays have an opening offer. Now if only they can find a sofa with half a billion dollars under the cushions...
If all of the half billion $ are quarters, that's 12 1/2 tons of cash. That would be some serious couch change. If this is ever going to work, that couch better be located in Westchester County.
Posted by Razzlegator on October 20, 2011 08:36 PM
Only $50 million to go until they reach stalking horse level (Portland).
Posted by Greg on October 23, 2011 11:51 PM