Foster: St. Pete prepared for 'Selig tricks'

Tropicana Field is "an absolutely beautiful facility," and the Rays may want to look at themselves when they complain about poor attendance, St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster said before Friday's game.

Foster, responding to opening night comments by Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg, likened Tropicana Field's quirks to the character of Chicago's Wrigley Field and said he's prepared for any "tricks" Major League Baseball might play in pushing for a new stadium.

Sternberg, who announced last June the Rays won't negotiate with the city of St. Petersburg about a new stadium unless options elsewhere in the Tampa Bay area can be considered, said Friday "it's imperative" talks get moving.

The owner only responded to specific questions about the stadium issue in a pre-game chat with reporters and made no inferences about moving the team, but he said his patience will probably last longer than MLB's.

Foster has fiercely opposed the Rays' efforts to explore regional possibilities, citing the team's Tropicana Field lease that runs through 2027, but has offered to amend the stadium agreement to allow the Rays to look for sites in St. Petersburg or areas of Pinellas County abutting the city.

The Rays have rejected that offer, and Foster said Friday he hasn't had a conversation with Sternberg about a new stadium since last year.

Asked if he has been convinced by mediocre attendance that the location of Tropicana Field won't work for the Rays, Foster said no.

"I take responsibility for easy ingress and egress to the facility and their (fans') experience until they get to the border," he said. "(The Rays) have to take over. They have to do their part to make sure there's an entire fan experience. I think they're doing it. Maybe they have to reassess some of how they do that."

Foster also said doesn't see any reason why Tropicana Field can't work long-term for a major-league baseball team.

"I love it," he said. "I mean, look at the field (new AstroTurf). Aside from a couple of quirky ground rules - you know, I call the (catwalk) rings Wrigley's Ivy - it's an absolute beautiful facility, to me, in Florida to play baseball."

Sternberg declined to respond to Foster's comments, but the Rays ranked 22nd out of 30 teams in attendance last year despite winning the AL East and having one of the lowest pricing structures in major pro sports.

Sternberg and Foster chatted separately on the field with Gov. Rick Scott, who was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. While Sternberg held out hope beforehand that Scott's pro-business platform bodes well for the Rays, Foster said state funding for a stadium is unlikely.

About the potential for MLB involvement, Foster said, "the city is prepared for interference from Major League Baseball and all of the (commissioner Bud) Selig tricks that have been used successfully elsewhere.

"We studied it, we know it, and we're prepared."