‘It hurts even worse for us': Former Trop employees react to dead stadium deal
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Now that the Tampa Bay Rays said they will not move forward with the new ballpark deal, what's next for the City of St. Pete? Mayor Ken Welch said he has no interest in working with the team's current ownership group.
There was a lot hinging on this Rays Hines deal. Patricia Oak worked at Tropicana Field for the last 12 years and said she wanted to see this deal work.
Rays deal dies: St. Pete mayor says he has no interest in dealing with current team owners
'It hurts even worse for us,' Oak said. 'What more can you do to this neighborhood that needs this kind of stuff? We need the jobs, the local jobs, we need the low-income housing.'
Also on the line is the new Carter G. Woodson Museum that many in the community have pushed for.
'I'm grieved that we are where we are today, but I remain hopeful,' said Terri Lipsey Scott, the executive director of the museum.
Scott saw the uncertainty of the project before the Rays pulled out Thursday. Last month, Scott withdrew a $10 million request for Pinellas County to fund their part of the Gas Plant project.
'There was some pause all the way around because of what was required of the Rays, and we were on their timeline. So there was some anxiety with regards to whether or not it could come to fruition on that timeline,' Scott said.
Mayor Welch said he wants the same equitable development but on a smaller scale. He said the city will repair Tropicana Field and honor their contract to 2028. But he also said he wants to move forward in a way that doesn't preclude new baseball ownership in the future.
'I have no interest in working with this ownership group,' Welch said. 'That bridge has been burned.'
Welch said there was no credible explanation on why the Rays pulled out. The ownership previously expressed concerns of cost overruns due to delays from back-to-back hurricanes.
'I have seen nothing that explains their cost overruns, no evidence of that whatsoever, but Mr. Silverman has said recently we have the money,' Welch said.
News Channel 8 On Your Side asked Oak, if she could, what would she say to Rays ownership.
'Where are you?' Oak said. 'We were there during your bad years as fans. We were there helping as employees; we've been your family any time you asked us to do something, where are you now to take care of us?'
As for the Woodson, they said they are back in the waiting room, hoping for the delivery of another opportunity.
'We will continue to labor intensely and see to it that we can garner the support of others,' Scott said. 'The historic Gas Plant area represents so much to so many in our community. To be able to have staked the claim in that particular area just elevated our desire to showcase our glorious history.'
The agreement is in effect until March 31 or until the city receives a termination letter from the Rays.
The city on Thursday did get an unsolicited proposal from Blake Investment Partners. It was not to buy the team, but to buy the real estate.
The proposal includes parks, a five-star hotel, the Woodson Museum, and a convention center.
Welch said the city gets unsolicited offers all the time.
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