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Campaigns, Signs Draw Stadium Lines

Tribune photo by CARLOS MONCADA

Pinellas residents display their preference for the proposed stadium in St. Petersburg

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By CARLOS MONCADA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 8, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG -- Elizabeth Powell's next-door neighbors like the idea of a new Rays stadium so much they've planted three "Let's Build The Ballpark" signs on their front lawn.

Powell signals her position with an outdoor sign of her own: "No NEW Waterfront $tadium!"

Still, relations haven't been ruined over the Tampa Bay Rays proposal to build a $450 million ballpark on the downtown waterfront.

"We don't speak anyway," Powell said. "We've already been under friction over other things."
In neighborhoods throughout the city, the Great Rays Stadium Debate has spawned political-style campaigns for and against the project, causing residents to take sides and make decisions on where they stand — even before all the facts are in.

Lines are being drawn well before key questions have been answered, like how exactly do the Rays intend to pay for the ballpark, how much will taxpayers be asked to kick in, and what happens to marine life if part of Tampa Bay is filled in?

It's not even clear yet whether voters will get to decide the issue.

Nonetheless, the competing campaigns are in full swing, with signmakers churning out their product, stickers slapped on bumpers and petitions making the rounds.

"I think people are just treating it like a political campaign," said Darryl Paulson, a political scientist at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. "And as such, they're trying to organize, trying to get their message out, trying to let other folks know that there's a lot of people who support their views."

Paulson said he's not surprised both sides are working to win over voters well before the city council decides whether to put the ballpark proposal on the November ballot. The council is expected to reach that decision June 5.

"I think what they're trying to do is influence the policy makers in terms of the kinds of decisions they will make," Paulson said. "They want to let people know that they're out there and that they're watching and paying attention to what's going on."

A pro-stadium group, Fans for Waterfront Stadium, began distributing its "Let Us Vote" signs on Tuesday. Group founder Kenny Locke said 500 signs have been ordered, with more to come when those run out.

"We just want to make sure the citizens of St. Petersburg have the right to vote," Locke said. "It's a very succinct, clear message."

Stadium foes began their campaign several months ago and have put out close to 3,000 yard signs and about the same number of bumper stickers, said Hal Freedman, founder of Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront, or POWW.

"We figured at some point they would start copying what we were doing," Freedman said. "We're doing what we can do. We don't have a lot of money, and we're spending it on making the issues visible."

St. Petersburg City Council Chairman James Bennett said the stadium opponents appear more visible and vocal. He said most people he has spoken with are concerned that the Rays will pump millions into a marketing campaign if the issue makes it to the ballot.

"I think they're probably right," Bennett said. "It's the Rays' issue. Of course, they're going to spend money to win it. So I think you can expect that."

The Rays are already playing an active role, touting their ballpark plans at community meetings and on the team's Web site. There, visitors can e-mail their support for a stadium referendum to city and Pinellas County leaders and can also order a free "Let's Build the Ballpark" yard sign.

The Rays also have teamed up with Oscar-winner Kevin Costner on a promotional video played during home games at Tropicana Field, where fans pass by a large display of the proposed open-air, 34,000-seat ballpark.

Costner, the star of three baseball movies, helped the Rays introduce their new uniforms, colors and logos in October. He offered to narrate the video as a favor to Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, said Michael Kalt, the team's senior vice president of development and business affairs.

"He enjoyed meeting Stu and was excited about where the organization is going and is a big baseball fan," Kalt said. "So he offered to do it and we accepted."

In the 60-second video, Costner describes the proposed ballpark in definitive terms, with no hint of the financing, parking, environmental hurdles the projects faces.

"The Rays new ballpark will bring over 2 million annual visitors to the streets and sidewalks of downtown St. Petersburg," Costner says. "The Rays' new ballpark will create new opportunities within the community and new memories for generations to come."

Kalt said public reaction to the video has been mostly positive. He dismissed criticism by some stadium foes that the Costner plug implies the project has already been approved.

"He's basically talking in the context of, "Here's what would happen if we build it and what it would mean for the city," Kalt said. "Anyone who has paid attention to the process or reads the newspaper knows the stadium is far from a done deal."

Attempts to reach Costner for comment through his agent, Rick Nicita with Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles, were unsuccessful. The agency requested that all questions be e-mailed, but never responded.

Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at (727) 451-2333 or cmoncada@tampatrib.com.

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