The Tampa Bay Rays were not granted permission by the St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday to look for new stadium sites in Hillsborough County.
Statement from #Rays President Brian Auld on today's decision by the St. Petersburg City Council: pic.twitter.com/mKDRV1kZIE
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) December 18, 2014
Five council members voted "no" while three were open to the idea of the club possibly relocating.
Seemed to me the council's 3 biggest concerns were: low compensation after team left, fear team would leave TB anyway, redevelopment rights.
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) December 19, 2014
Rays owner Stuart Steinberg has threatened to sell the team without a new ballpark. The team's current lease at Tropicana Field expires in 2027.
St. Pete mayor Rick Kriseman issued a short statement to express his displeasure with council:
"It is disappointing that the St. Petersburgh City Council rejected the progress and certainty that this agreement provided. St. Petersburg - and the entire Tampa Bay region - stands to lose our Major League Baseball team and receive nothing in return. This is an unfortunate outcome for St. Petersburg's taxpayers and for every fan of the Rays"
