St. Pete, Tampa Bay Rays Still At Odds Over Stadium Situation

The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly trying to build a new stadium to upgrade from their current dump, and it's causing all types of trouble with the city. According to the report, the team wants to build a new park where Tropicana Field currently sits, but it seems the city of St. Pete is a major roadblock.

The mayor of St. Pete says if the team isn't committing to a full season, then he won't let the Rays control the majority of that land.

As of today, the Rays intend to play half their "home" games in Montreal, while the rest are played in Tampa.

So the Rays aren't divorcing their wife into an expansion city like everyone thought they would--they're just asking for a bit of plastic surgery.

A little touch-up.

Mayor Rick Kriseman said yesterday that he's already agreed to allow the Rays to build a new stadium, as long as the team stays there full-time:

"I simply cannot allow the city and the community to lose control of the site," Kriseman said. "My preference is that the city work with the Rays and the developer that I choose on the specifics of a development around a new stadium."

Rays owner Stu Sternberg fires back

"There were a few proposals. There were discussions. The mayor chose to talk about them in a certain way, and I would disagree that we had that approach. And I know we didn't, so."

Kriseman's term as mayor doesn't end until the early months of 2022, so waiting him out isn't exactly an option for the Rays.

One thing is for certain: the mayor of St. Petersburg has a major ego. It's apparent in the way he speaks. "The developer that I chose" sounds like he wants his fingerprints all over the place, and that's a tough way to get a deal done.

Regardless, Tropicana Field needs to be blown to the ground immediately, so we can put the American League champion Rays in a park that doesn't look like a foot. Fingers crossed.