CLEARWATER, Fla. — A storm is brewing over plans for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium. Pinellas County Commissioners are set to vote on Tuesday whether to adopt a resolution finalizing changes to local tourism taxes and issuing bonds to fund its portion of the deal with the Rays and the city of St. Petersburg.
Two newly-elected commissioners and recent comments by the Rays principal owner are casting doubt on the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to keep the team in St. Pete. One tells 10 Tampa Bay he thinks the vote will be delayed, again.
Sworn in Monday night, new Pinellas County Commissioner Vince Nowicki thinks Tuesday’s vote on funding for a new Rays stadium won't happen.
“I think the seasoned politicians will rule the day,” he said. “And kick the can down the line to the next meeting.”
He's against the plan to give stadium developers more than $300 million from tourist tax dollars through a lodging tax, saying that it's not a good enough deal for the county. He replaces Commissioner Charlie Justice who supported it.
Chris Scherer, another new commissioner, wouldn't say how he'd vote tomorrow. He replaces outgoing commissioner Janet Long, who also supported the deal, making him a swing vote that could nix the county's commitment. Delays and doubt led Rays owner Stuart Sternberg to reportedly say the county isn't a partner anymore for a new stadium.
Commission Chair Kathleen Peters still supports the deal but said she was taken aback by Sternberg’s accusation.
“I think that was a premature statement,” she said. “We don't know if, in fact, he lost a partner. Pinellas County has a long history of being a good partner, a good collaborator.”
Commissioner Chris Latvala said the Rays have made no effort to talk to him about the new ballpark.
“I want the Rays to stay in Pinellas County,” he said. “For that to happen, the Rays need to talk to their partners.”
He's been a vocal opponent of the deal and had deputies at his home this weekend after a teenager allegedly threatened to kill him online, turned himself in and is facing charges.
“I think people get ginned up when they read something and they think that I’m solely responsible,” he said about the threat and deal possibly falling through. “There’s seven [commissioners.]”
The county's decision, or lack of one, Tuesday on its portion of funding could have a direct impact on the St. Petersburg city council's meeting on Thursday where it might decide if the city should pay more than $50 million to fix the roof that blew off during Hurricane Milton.