The Tampa Bay
[Devil]Rays need a pair of state lawmakers to spearhead their push for a $60-million state subsidy for a new stadium.But that prospect, in this tax climate, is more daunting than it seems.
The overwhelming majority of the
[Devil]Rays’ hometown lawmakers – the 12 members of the Pinellas County delegation [to the Florida legislature] that would be most likely to push the team’s interest – sound unwilling or uninterested in aiding the Rays when contacted by the St. Petersburg Times this week.
Principle owner Stu Sternburg insists the plan for a new stadium is not a ploy to leave town.
The Devil Rays are also trying for a new Spring training complex in Charlotte County in SW Florida.
It’s all part of plan to expand the Devil Rays low fan base. Winning would do that best, but it seems the Devil Rays haven’t learned that yet. Stories like this don’t help.
Even though he is entering his first year of arbitration eligibility, there’s already talk that Scott Kazmir’s days as a
[Devil]Ray are numbered.
Here is complete coverage by the Times on the proposed stadium, including pictures.
