Tropicana Field Proposal: Mayor, Rays Not On Same Page

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The city of St. Petersburg and HKS Architects developed a two conceptual master plans for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Tropicana Field site—one including a baseball stadium and one without, said the city.

The city of issued the Tropicana Field Site Request For Proposal to business developers on July 27 for developers to submit redeveloping plans on the site.

Mayor Rick Kriseman said in front of city hall on Monday they will review submissions from businesses that would like to have their business on the Tropicana Field site for around six months.

Kriseman wants for the city to take its time during the review process rather than rush because he said the history of this site is critical, and it's a once in a generation chance to create new opportunities for growth.

"What our expectation is related to the development with or without a stadium is we are very clear on the status of that site right now, and the Rays' position related to that site," said Kriseman.

He said that he has been in talks with the Tampa Bay Rays about the future possibilities of the site, and that they are supportive.

The Rays, however, indicated the team had not been involved in the process so far.

"We look forward to learning the details of the RFP," the Rays said in a news release following the mayor's news conference at city hall.

"We want the team here in St. Petersburg," Kriseman said. "If it's on that site—great. If they're in St. Pete and it's not on that site, that's ok, too. We'll be prepared to address that."

The Use Agreement legally obligates the Rays to play in St. Pete until 2027.

In reference to the Use Agreement Amendment and the city's relationship with the Rays', the RFP Tropicana Field said:

Based on the foregoing, any sale or lease of air rights (as described in Section 3.05 of the Use
Agreement) prior to the end of the 2027 MLB season is subject to the terms and conditions of the
Use Agreement and requires approval of the Rays, not to be unreasonably withheld.

For example, any development would need to be conducted in a manner that does not
unreasonably impair Rays’ operations or patron access to the Property during the term of the
Use Agreement. Replacement parking, though not necessarily on-site, must also be addressed.
Further, the City must obtain approval of Pinellas County prior to the sale or lease of air rights,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld if the proposed sale or lease furthers the
purposes of or is consistent with the approved Community Redevelopment Plan for the
redevelopment area. At the latest, development will commence after the Use Agreement
terminates.

Regardless of when development commences, planning for development can occur now. To that end, the City’s goal is to have an Agreement (as described in Section 18 of this RFP) in place with the selected Proposer by the end of 2021, with the sale or lease of air rights and commencement of development (i.e., commencement of construction) to occur when the Use Agreement terminates or sooner if the required approvals set forth in the Use Agreement are obtained. If the City and Rays enter into an agreement for the Rays to stay on site, then the selected Proposer and the City will need to plan a location for a future stadium. If the City and Rays do not enter into an agreement for the Rays to stay on site beyond the term of the Use Agreement, then the development plans will not include a stadium. The development team must be flexible and embrace a long-term collaboration with the City on the site’s development with or without the Rays.

Kriseman said he would personally like to see a university with research on the site.

"I think it's certainly on USF's radar and on the radar of Hopkins' and on the University of Florida's radar," expressed Kriseman. "The opportunity this site presents—the innovation—I think it makes us very attractive to a university to come to a community that is vibrant, that is growing and that is diverse."

Small business developers and major corporations who want to relocate to St. Pete are some business types the city hopes will consider submitting proposals as well as already established businesses in Tampa Bay that want to make St. Pete their new home.

The city has dedicated a minimum of $75 million for infrastructure development of the site with plans to partner with a development team to create a multi-use city center.

Proposals from developers are due January 15, at 10 a.m.

For detailed information on Tropicana Master Plan Scenario 1, click here.

For detailed information on Tropicana Plan Scenario 2, click here.