ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Bill Foster spent four years negotiating with the Rays when he became mayor of St. Petersburg in 2010 and said because of that experience, he believes the Major League Baseball team will not build a new stadium at the Trop site.

What You Need To Know

  • Former St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster believes the Rays were trying get the city or county to breach the contract

  • Foster said his gut tells him "they'll never break ground” on a new $1.3B stadium 

  • After securing $600 million from the city and county for a new stadium, the Rays stated they remain ready to solve the funding gap with their partners 

  • Foster expects the Rays rhetoric about needing more money to ratchet up over the next few months as the team nears a March 31 deadline

“My gut tells me, because I’ve known them a very long time, they’ll never break ground,” he said. “They don’t like contracts, unless you’re a player.”

Foster said a big tell was when the Rays publicly stated last month the deal was dead due to the county’s delayed October bond vote pushing the opening date back one year to 2029, but when asked to send an official termination letter the team stated the deal “remains in effect.” Foster said it was obvious the Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg was trying to get the city or county to breach the contract.

“He’s trying to get other people to breach… That’s why the Rays are whining about the roof or they’re whining about the timing,” he said. “Because if one of these entities breach, then he can make a fortune on development rights and he still doesn’t have to build a stadium.”

The Rays recently secured $600 million from the city and county, which covers about half the cost of the new $1.3 billion stadium, but the team stated they need more money due to the delayed bond vote and remain ready to solve the funding gap with their partners. Foster expects that rhetoric to ratchet up over the next few months as the Rays near a March 31 deadline.

“Even if the Rays say they’re going to do certain things in March, they’re going to ask for all sorts of amendments,” he said. Then he (Sternberg) always wants to paint the government, city or county as the bad guy.” 

Currently only the Rays can kill the deal with a termination letter or if they don’t meet certain obligations by March 31, it will automatically terminate.

“It’s theater, it’s a chess match,” said Foster. “So far, we’ve been dealing with somebody of extreme intellect who’s made a lot of money, who’s always used to getting his way, and he’s kind of backed into a corner. So now it’s decision time.”

The Rays declined a request for comment.