ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pinellas County Commissioners wrote a letter to Rays' Presidents Brian Auld and Matthew Silverman saying they need to decide if the stadium deal will move forward or be terminated by Sunday.
In the letter, which can be read in full at the end of this article, commissioners contradict previous statements that the team's officials made. Team leaders have said the deal is effectively dead but legally speaking, the deal is still alive, until and unless the city gets a termination agreement from the Rays.
Commissioners said that Auld previously accused the county of killing the deal. Commissioners said this is untrue because, according to the agreement, the Rays are responsible for the cost overruns. Even though the more than $300 million in bonds from the county were delayed, the Rays are responsible for fulfilling certain obligations before the county could move forward with issuing the bonds, which were not met, according to the letter.
The Rays did not provide the county with numerous documents, commissioners wrote.
County officials said the bonds were delayed "as a result of the uncertainty relating to where the Rays might play in 2025." They said no Rays representative attended the meeting where they voted to delay the funds.
Commissioners have balked at the Rays for not communicating with them about their plans for the 2025 season, and some were upset with the announcement that the team would play at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
County Commissioners Chair Kathleen Peters previously told 10 Tampa Bay that she would've preferred the team stayed in Pinellas "and the tourism dollars that will come with next season would go to Pinellas County."
In a letter from Auld and Silverman from Nov. 19, Auld and Silverman said a ballpark in Pinellas County was considered for next season, but it was determined that it wouldn't be in a condition to host regular season games by Opening Day.
"Although weather will be a challenge, we are very fortunate to be able to play the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field and not be forced to leave the Tampa Bay region," they wrote.
The two presidents also wrote that the Rays would not be able to absorb the higher cost that comes with a 2029 stadium delivery, and the delay in bonds "ended the ability for a 2028 delivery of the ballpark." Commissioners pointed to the agreement which says the Rays are responsible for the cost overruns and the deadline for project competition is in 2030, after the 2029 season.
"Pinellas County has operated in good faith, working toward the stadium deal while balancing the needs of our community after back-to-back hurricanes. If the Rays want out of this agreement, it is your right to terminate the contract. Clear communication about your intentions will be critical to the next steps in this partnership," the letter read.
Pinellas County is set to move forward with considering the bond resolution at their Dec. 17 meeting, but commissioners say they need to either confirm their intent to move forward with the current agreement or formally terminate it by Dec. 1.
