Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Rays Flirtations with Hillsborough Continue

Rays President Brian Auld, who said two weeks ago said the Rays wouldn't get involved in political races, dropped by Hillsborough County's regular commission meeting today to talk about the team's successful new "Honor Pass" program for military servicemembers and veterans.

But the Times' Steve Contorno reports the discussions didn't stop there, of course:
“The team’s performance and efforts for a new stadium are well documented but I want to thank you for your commitment to improving the quality of life for our community,” (Commissioner Ken) Hagan said. “The Rays organization is certainly a model corporate citizen, and I close by saying: Look forward to seeing you here in the not too distant future.” 
(Auld later said) he has met with “all the candidates who have asked to meet with me” in the race to replace St. Petersburg City Councilman Wengay Newton, an opponent of a deal that would allow the Rays to search for a new stadium in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and a key swing vote. Those candidates are Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Aaron Sharpe, he said.

“We've had pleasant conversations but as I've said before the Rays don't elect city councilmembers, the citizens of St. Petersburg do and we don't want to exert an undue influence on that process," Auld said.
ALSO READ: Hillsborough Stadium Deal for Rays Could Mirror Cobb Co's Secret, Not-So-Great, Potentially-Illegal Deal for Braves
ALSO READ: Hagan: "Hillsborough County isn't going to build it and taxpayer won't be asked to pay for it."






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32 comments:

  1. Bienvenue a Montreal

    ReplyDelete
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    1. You should change your keyboard, you will be able to write it the right way, so, I'll be able to read it correctly.

      Bienvenue à Montréal.

      Once that said, what's the point with the post?

      Delete
  2. I think he means to say the Rays are going to leave the area?

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  3. It's not "flirting", they're in a relationship.

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  4. Lol, "to talk about team's successful new "Honor Pass" program", is that what they call it these days?

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  5. No(ah) offense, but most of the media is so blind. It's like how the media didn't say much about the confederate flag in SC until reported the showed racist killed blacks there, or how the financial networks didn't say anything for years until the "house of cards" fell...

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    1. Dufala, you've been saying there was a deal imminent for years. At what point do those predictions become wrong?

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  6. I worked at within the Hillsborough County Govt., I have been made privy to some insider scoop (not a lot but a little). At any rate, the Rays will be staying in the area and will be playing in Tampa. I have seen posts pertaining to the Ybor area. In my opinion, that is a pretty safe bet.

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    1. I been saying it on here for years, but everyone else denied it. Why? Idk, but I would of thought that all the under-the-table work between the parties would of been a great story for the "investigating reporter" that host this blog...

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    2. That's great - how old is your "inside info"?

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    3. The only "talks" that were reported by more than one source (just to make sure it's clear, more than one person and talks with an "S") are the ones between Sternberg (and silent investors) and the Montreal investors.

      All the other insider info in TB or "Take that to the bank" are just ... noise on the wire.

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    4. BTW, teams are lining up to play in Montreal. And some teams are willing to outbid others to make sure they will play in Montreal.

      Evenko is in the driver seat, waiting to see which team will make the best offer (not the other way around)!

      http://www.985sports.ca/baseball/nouvelles/baseball-la-rio-a-reserve-des-dates-pour-la-saison-730422.html

      Stay Tuned!

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    5. Red Sox vs Big Red Machine or
      Rays vs Red Sox

      the possibilities are heating up....

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  7. The only thing worse than already wealthy people sticking their hands out for tax favors is already wealthy people draping themselves in the American flag and sticking their hands out for tax favors.

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    1. Newsflash, the wealthy been partnering with gov for the better of both for centuries. Your probably to brainwashed to want to believe this, but America was lucky to have wealthy people like JP Morgan & Rockefeller to bail our country out financially. Kind of like how lucky Tampa is for Vinik, though know it wouldn't be happening without the "tax payers" building Amalie...

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    2. So you admit that government exists at the mercy of and to do the bidding of the wealthy and well-connected. But of all the examples you could use to defend such corruption, why would you cite Standard Oil?

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    3. He said (and is) "partnering", not "mercy".

      Delete
  8. The wheels are in top speed for a stadium in Ybor. Announcement coming very soon. You can take that to the bank!

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  9. Announcement next week!! You can take that to the bank!

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    Replies
    1. Either or, I would trust "the big dog"'s info then a self proclaimed "watch dog", lol...

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    2. Announcement this week!! You can take that to the bank!

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  10. I've always wondered about the contradiction pertaining to an owner saying that for the team to be competitive, a new stadium is needed and the taxpayers need to pay the majority of the costs associated. Why not start reducing the amount (s) paid to players? For instance, the Reds, Pirates, Brewers, Mariners, and Marlins all have new stadiums. The Reds haven't made the playoff's since 95. The Mariner's haven't done anything special in forever. The Pirates haven't been to a World Series since '79. The Marlins have a new stadium but are in the cellar. Remember when the Orioles opened their new stadium. It was considered the best thing since sliced bread. From 84 to 2014, the O's have been in the playoff's 4 times. They don't seem to have a problem with attendance. What is the issue? Why did the Rays make it to the World Series when playing in a stadium deemed unfit for baseball? Strange how that works.

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    1. It's about enhanced revenue streams. More corporate box seats, potentially more expensive seats and other marketing opportunities. The theory is that the additional revenues will go back in to the product and yield a more competitive team.

      The Expos had one of the lowest payrolls ever yet fielded some very competitive teams as did the Marlins in their old stadium... Obviously it can be done but it's not sustainable in order to compete with the Skankees or BoSox for talent.

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    2. Hi Anonymous@August 10, 2015 at 2:16 PM

      Why will corporate pay for more and more expensive box seats in the new stadium than they do at the Trop? Why would more fans pay for more expensive seats in the new stadium than they do at the Trop? Are there other 'enhanced revenue streams'?

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    3. The Reds "new" stadium is 12 years old. Why have they not been sustainably competitive in those 12 years? Same with Pirates, Mariners, Brewers, Rockies and many other teams. They have new stadiums but are not sustainably competitive. Of course it creates new revenue streams, the owners take the money from the taxpayers and use it. The taxpayers are the revenue stream.

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    4. Scott - the basis for building a new sporting arena in the US and Canada has been bc they have been able to milk corporate sponsorship - look at every new baseball stadium and you will see that. Yankee Stadium, Target Field, CitiField, SafeCo Park etc.. Is

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    5. Scott, a new stadium is also about capitalizing on excitement and getting fans/corporations to pay more for an item that has a plateaued value.

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    6. wow, needing to explain this to scott really shows how slow he is.

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    7. I'm all for a new stadium it it is just the fans, corporations, team, and MLB who pay for it. No taxpayers dollars are needed.

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    8. Yeah, if you live in an ideal world....

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