October 21, 2011

Rays stadium saga: Isn't this where we came in?

This week's developments in the ongoing Tampa Bay Rays stadium standoff:

• The St. Petersburg city council held a stadium workshop, and Mayor Bill Foster's staff hogged the entire schedule by talking at them. The reason? Foster doesn't want any talk about a new stadium until the Rays drop their demand that they be allowed to discuss options outside St. Petersburg, something they desperately want but that is prohibited by their lease. Councilmember Leslie Curran, who had requested the workshop in the first place, told the Tampa Tribune: "I appreciate staff putting this all together. I thought this was going to be a little different."
• MLB commissioner Bud Selig said the Rays finishing last in the league in attendance despite a playoff team is "bad," and added of the stadium situation, "I'm usually an optimist, and I don't have any reason to be too optimistic."
• The mayor of Orlando said the Rays would be better off in his city.

In other words, pretty much par for the course. Tune in next week for more of the same fun!