Tampa Bay stadium plan leaves much unanswered

More developments, and quite a few open questions, about the recently revealed plan for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium:

• The 70 acres of land under Tropicana Field, which team owners would want to develop as part of a stadium deal, could be worth as much as $200 million to private developers. It’s not clear that all of that money would go to the Rays, though – the city, which leases the land from Pinellas County (and in turn leases the stadium to the Rays) could be looking at some of it to help pay off its $100 million in remaining construction debt on the Trop.

• Even if the Rays owners given all the development money, with the team kicking in $150 million and the state $30 million (in present value), that would still leave about a $70 million funding gap on what’s projected to be a $450 million stadium. Where this money would come from, no one knows.

• The city would benefit from development of the Trop site because the land would go back on the property-tax rolls. Of course, if it kept the development rights for itself and told the Rays to go take a long walk off a short pier, it would benefit even more, if you don’t count the outrage of all the Rays fans. (Okay, both the Rays fans.)

• Florida Gov. Charlie Crist thinks the whole idea is just peachy, saying today: “I love the idea, from what I’ve read. It sounds great to me. I envision, sort of – isn’t it Giants stadium that;s on the water, too? Where they’re playing now is fine, and has served them well. But I think the opportunity to create an ambiance right on the waterfront in St. Petersburg is brilliant. I really do. … I view, as a significant part of economic development, what sports does for Florida. Whether it’s at the college level or the professional level, it’s jobs, jobs, jobs for a lot of people. … I also would be supportive of the one in Miami … I think it’s great. The waterfront in St. Petersburg is glorious, as it is all over the state.”