Gov. Ron DeSantis came out in favor of keeping the Tampa Bay Rays in the region.
The governor spoke during a press conference Friday in Palmetto to announce the awarding of $2 million toward improvements to SeaPort Manatee.
He said Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, told him he's committed to keeping the Rays in the market.
"You know, my view is it can be a viable, good franchise," DeSantis said. "I mean, they've had good baseball decisions that have been made over the years. With really significant financial challenges, they've still been able to produce a good product and compete in a very difficult division, but the fan and the attendance really hasn't been there.
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"As a baseball fan and as a Floridian, I know baseball can do well in the Tampa Bay area. I have no doubt that it can do well."
His comments came after Rays owner Stuart Sternberg pulled the plug Thursday on an agreement to build a $1.3 billion ballpark and a $6.5 billion project to redevelop the surrounding Historic Gas Plant District in St. Petersburg.
In a social media post, Sternberg cited a "series of events beginning in October that no one could have anticipated led to this difficult decision."
"It's already a massive market. There is no way that it can't be successful, and they've made really good baseball decisions over the years compared to some of these other teams that have had more bloated payrolls. So I think it definitely can work. We just got to figure out. They got to figure out what that formula is. "Gov. Ron DeSantis
Sternberg was referring to Hurricane Milton, which destroyed much of Tropicana Field and led to delays by the city and county in approving bonds to cover their ends of the stadium construction.
The Rays had faced a March 31 deadline to decide whether to continue with the project. They didn't wait that long.
DeSantis said the Rays have made a lot of progress in building a fan base. But he held up the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team as an example to emulate.
"Having grown up in the Tampa Bay area, there were 10 times more baseball fans than hockey fans, and yet, one of the most successful franchises has been the Tampa Bay Lightning, and because I think (Lightning owner) Jeff Vinick did a great job," DeSantis said. "They really got involved the community. It became something that people wanted to be a part of. And so they have good attendance."
DeSantis also cited the growing Tampa Bay market as a reason Major League Baseball would want to keep the Rays in the region.
"I know ... there's people that want to bring baseball to other parts of the state, not necessarily the Rays, but maybe an expansion team to Orlando," DeSantis said. "I'm just hoping that it works out for the folks here in the Tampa Bay area, but certainly from a Florida perspective, we need to have a Major League Baseball franchise in this part of the state where this is one of the most fastest growing markets in the country."
According to Nielsen, the Tampa-St. Petersburg (Sarasota) designated market is the 11th largest in the country, with more 1.9 million television households.
"It's already a massive market," DeSantis said. "There is no way that it can't be successful, and they've made really good baseball decisions over the years compared to some of these other teams that have had more bloated payrolls. So I think it definitely can work. We just got to figure out. They got to figure out what that formula is. "
