St. Petersburg and Pinellas County are teaming up again on the future of Tropicana Field \u2014 this time, to explore putting a convention center in its place.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis study will evaluate whether such a project is viable,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
That development came as news broke of a potential sale of the Tampa Bay Rays<\/a>. The club announced Thursday that it is in \u201cexclusive discussions\u201d with a group led by Jacksonville home builder Patrick Zalupski \u201cconcerning a possible sale of the team.\u201d If the sale goes through, it\u2019s expected that the team would remain in the Tampa Bay area with new owners looking at sites in Tampa and St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n Since the Rays didn\u2019t 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\u2019s idea, though commissioners have floated that possibility, too.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been more than one person asking is this feasible,\u201d Burton said. \u201cSo when the city brought it up, I said, well, that\u2019s in alignment with what the commissioners are thinking to get info on whether we should pursue or not.\u201d<\/p>\n Welch and two spokespersons for the city did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Nowicki mentioned in a recent county meeting that if the city wasn\u2019t going to lead the charge, the county should. He imagines a convention center half the size of Tampa\u2019s, so the two aren\u2019t competing. An attached hotel, he said, is a must. Nowicki said he wanted to meet with Welch to discuss the idea.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one thing we\u2019re missing from our county and city to drive tourism,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re missing that constant driver of 10,000, 20,000, 30,0000 during the week that would sustain and grow all of these ancillary businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n Burton said there is no timeline yet for when details of the city and county\u2019s partnership and scope of the study might be ready. The study would likely need to go before both boards for a vote.<\/p>\n Spend your days with Hayes<\/p>\n Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter<\/p>\n Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.<\/p>\n You\u2019re all signed\u00a0up!<\/p>\n Want more of our free, weekly newsletters\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0inbox? Let\u2019s\u00a0get\u00a0started.<\/p>\n