However this Tampa Bay Rays stadium scenario ultimately shakes out, there are aspects we should be able to agree on.
* Too bad Frank Morsani’s Tampa Bay Baseball Group, which almost landed the Minnesota Twins and wanted to build a privately-financed stadium in Tampa, wasn’t awarded the expansion franchise that went to Vince Namoli’s St. Pete bid. We’ll let it go at that.
* Good to see a realistic, regional approach to a stadium search come out of St. Petersburg City Council. Having a progressive, common-sense mayor has helped immeasurably.
* Having said that, St. Petersburg–on the western fringe of an asymmetrical market sans mass transit and corporate headquarters–should prioritize redeveloping those 85 Tropicana-site acres without a baseball facility. That’s the best bet to max out on economic synergy.
* Not that it will be an easy logistical and financial fit in Tampa, including Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s preferred Tampa Park Apts. site, but the bottom-line alternative to Tampa is out of market–or even out of the country (Montreal).