TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Crist Backs New Stadium

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARC LANCASTER and CATHERINE DOLINSKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - The Tampa Bay Rays will have the support of Gov. Charlie Crist as they attempt to build a new stadium.

Crist told reporters Wednesday he "loves the idea" of a waterfront ballpark in his hometown and has "pretty much" pledged his support to Rays officials.

"It sounds great to me," Crist said of the proposed 35,000-seat stadium expected to cost $450 million. "Where they're playing now is fine, and has served them well, but I think the opportunity to create an ambiance right on the waterfront of St. Petersburg is brilliant - I really do."

Rays officials gave Crist a broad overview of their plans in August, but the governor had not disclosed his thoughts on the project until Wednesday. The Rays had no comment beyond a brief statement from President Matt Silverman released by the team.

"The governor's words speak for themselves," it read. "We are very pleased to have his support."

Crist did not directly address the $60 million in state sales tax rebates the Rays are relying upon to help fund the project, but he previously encouraged the Florida Marlins to explore that route as they sought financing for a new stadium.

The Marlins have been denied funding by the Florida Legislature on six separate occasions, but they still hope to build a new ballpark that would open in 2011 on the site of the Orange Bowl, which is slated for demolition early next year. The Marlins previously sought a downtown Miami site for a proposed $490 million stadium with a retractable roof, but the Orange Bowl is now the only site under consideration according to media reports in South Florida.

Crist also expressed support for the Marlins' efforts Wednesday, reiterating that he views big-time athletics as "a significant part of economic development" in the state.

"Whether it's at the professional level or the college level, it provides jobs, jobs, jobs for a lot of people," Crist said. "It's not just about the owners and the players."

That sentiment runs deep for Crist, who worked as the general counsel for baseball's minor leagues early in his professional career. Earlier this year, Crist told the editorial board of Fort Lauderdale's Sun-Sentinel newspaper that he sees professional sports teams as "an economic stimulant" to any community in which they reside.

"The help in my view comes for two things: people who work at the stadium, people who sell hot dogs, people who work in concession stands, people who work in the parking lots. The dovetail of economic opportunity," Crist told the Sun-Sentinel. "There's another part I think is important, too, what those teams do to a community, particularly when they win, and sort of a spirit that it develops.

"Look what happened when the Marlins won the World Series, not once but twice in 1997 and 2003. I was down in South Florida on occasion. It's wonderful how it lifts the spirit of a community, and sometimes the state. And I think that's important. I want people to be happy, I want them to enjoy things like that and it can have the added benefit of being a tremendous economic engine for a community. I would encourage them to try again."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com. Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382 or cdolinski@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT