Today, Governor DeSantis and MLB Commissioner Manfred gathered with Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater and Rays CEO Ken Babby to show a united front in the effort to build a Rays stadium at the current Hillsborough College site.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaseball belongs in Tampa Bay,\u201d DeSantis said. \u201cBaseball can succeed in Tampa Bay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Governor DeSantis led off, with long-winded remarks, and Manfred followed, then came Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater, and Rays CEO Ken Babby, followed by questions from the press.<\/p>\n
Manfred\u2019s presence signaled that Major League Baseball fully supports the Rays new ownership and their plan. \u201cToday is an important day,\u201d Manfred said. \u201cIt\u2019s a milestone along a path that I believe will lead to the Tampa Bay Rays being a part of this community for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Manfred was hesitant to say that this is the last chance for the Rays to build a ballpark in the Tampa Bay Area, he made it clear that the clock is ticking. \u201cFlorida is vibrant, there are alternatives in Florida,\u201d Manfred said. \u201cAnd I do think we\u2019re at a point in the history of the club that something needs to get done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Babby emphasized that this project is about more than baseball. \u201cThis is about building a stronger Tampa, a stronger region by reinvesting back in the community, and rejuvenating a college,\u201d Babby said. \u201cAnd creating a world-class, mixed-use development, and the future home of the Tampa Bay Rays.\u201d<\/p>\n
While no ballpark renderings were shown at Tuesday\u2019s press conference, DeSantis revealed that they will be released in the coming days. Tuesday\u2019s press conference was instead an opportunity for the Rays to bring out some of the biggest power players in this process, a show of strength not previously seen in the Rays Stadium Saga.<\/p>\n
Next, they\u2019ll need to present local officials with a plan on how to pay for this whole thing.<\/p>\n