November 21, 2024 — Rays President Brian Auld convinces the St. Petersburg City Council to delay repairing Tropicana Field (link), leading the Council to delay their stadium bond issuance into 2025. Here’s a breakdown of this dramatic turn of events:
City Council convenes to consider cost to repair Tropicana Field and approve new stadium bonds
City Council narrowly votes 4-3 to fund $23m to initiate the repair of Tropicana Field’s roof after fierce debate
Council takes a 15-min recess before considering approval of the new stadium bonds
During the recess, Auld tells the gathered media that he wishes the Council had not approved fixing Tropicana Field
City Council returns to session, calls Auld forward to answer questions on the letter he provided to the Pinellas County Commission and his comments during the recess
Rays president clarifies that, from his perspective, there is no stadium deal anymore and that efforts to repair Tropicana Field on the team’s behalf are not worthwhile
City Council votes 5-2 to delay bond vote to 2025 so they can seek a legal withdrawal letter from the Rays on the new stadium deal
City Council recalls the vote on funding Tropicana Field roof repair, striking it down in a unanimous vote of 7-0