St. Petersburg and Pinellas County are teaming up again on the future of Tropicana Field — this time, to explore putting a convention center in its place.
City Development Administrator James Corbett told City Council members in an email around 6 p.m. Wednesday that, following a meeting with Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton on Monday, they agreed to collaborate on a feasibility study for a potential convention center as part of the new vision for the Historic Gas Plant District.
“This study will evaluate whether such a project is viable,” Corbett wrote, adding that it would include in-depth analysis of market demand for convention and meeting space, appropriate sizing and layout and how such a project could support regional tourism, economic development and job creation.
That development came as news broke of a potential sale of the Tampa Bay Rays. The club announced Thursday that it is in “exclusive discussions” with a group led by Jacksonville home builder Patrick Zalupski “concerning a possible sale of the team.” If the sale goes through, it’s expected that the team would remain in the Tampa Bay area with new owners looking at sites in Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Since the Rays didn’t move forward with a sweeping plan to build a stadium and surrounding redevelopment, Mayor Ken Welch has said he wants to look at other options for the Trop site. Burton told the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday that it was the city’s idea, though commissioners have floated that possibility, too.
“There’s been more than one person asking is this feasible,” Burton said. “So when the city brought it up, I said, well, that’s in alignment with what the commissioners are thinking to get info on whether we should pursue or not.”
Welch and two spokespersons for the city did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment.
Commissioner Vince Nowicki, who campaigned on the idea of building a convention center before winning election in November, said the city and county would likely split the bill for the feasibility study. The county, he said, would pay for its share from tourist development taxes.
Nowicki mentioned in a recent county meeting that if the city wasn’t going to lead the charge, the county should. He imagines a convention center half the size of Tampa’s, so the two aren’t competing. An attached hotel, he said, is a must. Nowicki said he wanted to meet with Welch to discuss the idea.
“It’s one thing we’re missing from our county and city to drive tourism,” he said. “We’re missing that constant driver of 10,000, 20,000, 30,0000 during the week that would sustain and grow all of these ancillary businesses.”
Burton said there is no timeline yet for when details of the city and county’s partnership and scope of the study might be ready. The study would likely need to go before both boards for a vote.
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St. Petersburg council chairperson Copley Gerdes, who sits on the county’s Tourist Development Council, said he believes the Gas Plant needs an anchor tenant.
“A convention center is certainly something I think people would want,” Gerdes said. “A feasibility study seems reasonable.”
At a recent panel hosted by the Times to discuss the future of the Trop, University of South Florida associate professor Elizabeth Strom, an expert in urban development, said a convention center would not be used enough and would need upgrades to stay fresh. She said a hotel with convention center space would be a good alternative.
“Please anyone who’s out there proposing a convention center, do not propose a convention center,” Strom said. “You don’t want that in St. Pete.”
St. Petersburg is obligated to provide a stadium and parking for the Rays under an agreement that expires after 2028. Repairs to the stadium are underway and are expected to be completed for opening day next year.