Part 7/9:
Future Considerations: The New Stadium Prospects
Future planning looks murky and complex, particularly as the Rays have shown reluctance about financing the proposed new stadium. While city and county officials had agreed to fund the project, the team’s about-face regarding the escalating costs has reignited tensions.
They’ve been hints of hardball tactics between the Rays and local government officials, as both sides grapple with their responsibilities under the terms of the stadium agreements. The Rays’ insistence on necessary repairs and their somewhat non-committal stance concerning the financing of a new stadium has created a charged atmosphere.