Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve a non-binding MOU with the #Rays to pursue a new ballpark at the HCC site — a major step toward what could become the biggest public stadium investment in Tampa Bay history.
In a statement after the vote, Rays CEO @kenbabby said they’re “grateful” to the county commission for approving the MOU and allowing staff to continue working toward a definitive agreement. The team says it believes “deeply in the power of a new ballpark, a reinvented Hillsborough College, and a privately financed mixed-use neighborhood that will positively shape our region well into the future.”
Babby also called Wednesday’s vote “excellent news for our community,” while acknowledging “it is only the first of several crucial steps this week” needed to keep the project on track.
The Tampa Bay Rays are 26-13, the best record in the AL.
Their payroll ranks bottom 3 in MLB at $87 million. Their highest-paid player is Yandy Díaz ($12M).
Every year they find a way to compete with teams spending 3x as much. One of the most impressive organizations in sports.
@ECloskyWTSP Everyone saying he should be gone is clueless. There are a dozen + Teams in the league who would fire their head coach to get coop if he gets fired.
This year Jon Cooper coached two of the best played structural games of the decade: with Team Canada in the Gold Medal game, and in Game 7 tonight vs. Montreal.
He was on the losing end of both games. #Hockey