Sunday, October 18, 2015

Is Gerdes' Rays Stadium Proposal Dead on Arrival?

There's the Kriseman/Rays planthe Gerdes planthe Kornell plan;  and now we have the Kennedy plan as another St. Pete city councilmember proposes specific terms in which he would allow the Rays to explore new stadium sites in Hillsborough Co.

According to the Trib's Chris O'Donnell, Councilman Jim Kennedy (potentially with the influence of his ally and former mayor Bill Foster?) proposes the Rays compensate the city of St. Pete $4 million a year for every year they play in Hillsborough County until 2027; or $2.5 million a year for every year they play in Pinellas County, outside of St. Pete city limits (like Toytown, Carillon, Derby Lane, etc).

Additionally, Kennedy is proposing the Rays pay a one-time fee to help redevelop the Trop: $5 million if they move to Hillsborough, and $2.5 million if they leave St. Pete but stay in Pinellas County.

The Rays wouldn't pay anything if they come to an agreement on a new St. Pete stadium, and O'Donnell reports all offers are off the table if Pinellas Commissioners dedicate their available bed taxes elsewhere, although the specifics on that weren't terribly clear.

Of course, the Rays had no comment on news of the proposal, and Kennedy told the Trib the team gave him an initial indication they would not go above their previous offer.

Kennedy's plan vs. the others

If the Rays announced next fall that they had settled on a new stadium in Hillsborough County to be opened in April 2019, here is how much each of the proposals would require the team to pay St. Pete for an early departure from the Trop:
  • The original Kriseman plan, agreed upon by the Rays: $20 million
  • Gerdes' newest proposal, announced last week: $25.5 million
  • Kennedy's new plan: $41 million
Even though Kriseman and the Rays both say the team won't go any higher than its original offer, city hall insiders indicate some councilmembers may be convalescing around Kennedy's plan.  Which could kill Gerdes' much-less-lucrative plan even before it hits city hall photocopiers.

Of course, Kennedy' plan had yet to be shared publicly prior to Friday, so some councilmembers' intimacy of the details - through contact with county commissioners - raises an eyebrow or two about Florida's Meeting-in-the-Sunshine laws.  But I digress....

Kennedy's numbers are very similar to what Bill Foster was proposing while he was in office ($5M/yr), which the Rays reportedly rejected outright, leading to years of inaction.

What's next?

We'll see Thursday where each of the eight councilmembers stands on the issue; but don't expect much reaction from the Rays.  They, unlike municipalities, know not to negotiate against themselves in the court of public opinion.

Meanwhile, negotiator-in-chief Kriseman is out of town, spending time in Canada on trade mission (don't get your panties in a wad; he's in Toronto, not Montreal).  His first day back in the office?  It just so happens to be Thursday.





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14 comments:

  1. Noah, in Montreal, it will need us more than a negotiator-in-chief to get our panties in a wad!

    There's probably lots of disclaimers coming with him! ;)

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  2. Meanwhile, negotiator-in-chief Kriseman is out of town, spending time in Canada on trade mission (don't get your panties in a wad; he's in Toronto, not Montreal). His first day back in the office? It just so happens to be Thursday.

    In Toronto not Montreal....?

    Because a conference call or a quick 35 min plane ride or 5 hour drive to get from Toronto to Montreal (or vice versa for Mayor Coderre) is too much to do?

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    1. Mayor Coderre is busy tonight. He's at the Montreal City Hall watching the french version of Deal or No Deal - Special Expos! while tweeting what is going on.

      Wonderful TV show with The Hawk, Felipe Alou, Le Grand Orange, Bill 'Spaceman' Lee, Claude Raymond, Ellis Valentine, Steve Rogers, Jacques Doucet, Rodger Brulotte, Youppi! and may others.

      One interesting thing, the best memories of most of them is the crowd, the standing ovation, the emotion of playing in Montreal.

      That's what's happening when there's a crowd behind the team.

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  3. I doubt Kriseman will be looking to offload the Rays in Canada during his visit. It's Stu's team and he'll do what he can to get them out of Florida.

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  4. Lol, the Canadian people think that Montreal will be getting a team! They use this site as their sounding board! LOL!

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    1. Why not use a name for your disparaging and asinine comments Annoying-mouse?

      I find it amusing, LOL, that the stay-at-home Rays fans like yourself think that your team will be staying put in Tampa. If you can't be bothered to get out to see them more often, they'll leave ya... LOL

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    2. Our sounding board is Manfred and the MLB owners. Don't need this site to do so. Don't overestimate the quality of your comments, which are, by the way anonymous.

      Regarding Montreal, it's not IF we will get a team. It's WHEN.

      In Tampa Bay (region), it's not IF the Rays will get a stadium, it's IF the region can support a MLB team.

      So instead of commenting on Montreal's intention, focus your actions and comments on how to fill the stands to support the team. Then the stadium talks will make sense in St-Pete and TB.

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    3. "So instead of commenting on Montreal's intention, focus your actions and comments on how to fill the stands to support the team. Then the stadium talks will make sense in St-Pete and TB."

      That's the kicker, isn't it? How many sellouts did the Rays have this year, aside from Opening Day? Even that "Fill Up the Trop Night" local grassroots campaign didn't come close, even with the Yankees in town.

      I've always said the Rays to Montreal rumors would die the minute that there was actual progress on the subject. As there has been none, and in that same period of time Montreal has gone from a pipe dream, to the leading candidate for an MLB team. If I were a local fan, I'd be concerned too. Not that we hear from many on this site, or see them showing up to city council meetings. Perhaps they watch the meetings on TV?

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    4. "If I were a local fan, I'd be concerned too. Not that we hear from many on this site, or see them showing up to city council meetings. Perhaps they watch the meetings on TV?"

      And that's Florida MLB fans do... they watch from their TVs and wonder why the Rays are talkin about leaving town...

      Heck, it really shouldn't matter to those TV watchers where the Rays end up, they'll still be able to watch them on TV, albeit from Montreal.

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    5. I wish I felt the urge to give a sh*t or two about Montreal. It would make all of this whining and trash talk and purposeless provocation more tolerable.

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    6. No one cares what you give a shit about annoying-mouse... now go back in to your hole and munch on your cheese....

      Like others have said, worry about your Rays and the empty stadium they consistently get

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  5. Seems like the Rays would or should jump at the Gerdes proposal if it came to fruition.

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    1. Oh really? Why? So they can over pay and be hostages again? They need to take an offer and get the hell out of the toxic wasteland that Fla is

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