Rays Stadium Vote: Live Coverage

Today at 3:00pm the St. Petersburg city council will convene and vote to decide whether or not to accept the Rays proposed deal to allow the team to potentially move from Tropicana Field, relieving them from their lease that's signed until 2027. Before the vote, the Rays principal owner, Stuart Sternberg will address the council, making a rare appearance.

To listen and watch the live meeting, here's the link.

http://www.stpete.org/connect/stpetetv/index.php

#Breaking: Rays owner to make rare appearance at #StPete City Council ahead of stadium vote https://t.co/heU67hJm0C pic.twitter.com/s4XKvs8POB

— Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) January 14, 2016

#StPete council meeting about to start. Stu Sternberg to speak, then Mayor @Kriseman, then public, then council, according to @CharlieFrago.

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

3:10

Councilman Jim Kennedy proposes if the Rays get this deal to pass, they could use it to move away from Florida...despite specific language to the contrary in the agreement.

.#StPete council member Jim Kennedy, longtime opponent of #Rays deal, has copy of @MLB constitution, showing open @MLB territory. 1/2

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

Kennedy says he thinks @RaysBaseball plan to leave region + MOU will give them legal grounds to do so. Thinks NJ might be on the radar. 2/2

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

3:15

I admit that I've never attended a city council meeting, but this seems strange to me

Beautiful violin and singing "Let it Be" from Arts Conservatory for Teens at #Rays meeting. Nice prelude to historic @RaysBaseball vote.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

3:40

Charlie Frago speculates that two members of the city council may be opposed to the deal

How will @stevekornell vote today? He's voted against previous @Kriseman deals. And new council member @EdMontanari is on record as opposed.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

4:10

The council just finished acknowledging a local youth football team, taking with them most f the attendance. Poetically, not many people are there to witness the stadium vote

Pop Warner Champs exit, council chambers nearly empty for historic #Rays vote. Plenty of seats available, @StPeteFL.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

The stadium talk has finally arrived, after some tax talk

Juvenile Welfare Board's income tax assistance program just got the #StPete TV equivalent of a Super Bowl ad spot. Next up: #Rays vote.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

4:15

Brian Auld is adressing the council, listing what has happened since the new ownership took over in 2005

.@RaysBaseball prez Brian Auld is now speaking at #Rays deal. "We are seeking to take the first step at securing future of baseball in TB."

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

#Rays VP Brian Auld: "We remain optimistic. Our region is booming...TV ratings (strong)."

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

#Rays VP Brian Auld: "Our mission is to energize the community through the magic of baseball." #SportsBiz

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

Stuart Sternberg is now at the podium

#Rays' Stu Sternberg apologizes for "angst" this issue has caused; says never his intent to cause such a big debate.

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

.@RaysBaseball execs Auld and Sternberg to leave council chambers after statements. Sternberg focusing on #Rays community service.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

Sternberg: Everyone in this room grew up a fan of another team...we have to be patient with the kids of Tampa Bay growing up w/#Rays

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

#Rays' Stu Sternberg: Those who know me - even the biggest skeptics of all the reporters - know we are in it for Tampa Bay

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

#Rays' Stu Sternberg wraps his somewhat humbling speech with compliments to Mayor @Kriseman & thanks for everyone's patience over the yrs.

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

4:30

Mayor Kriseman is now at the podium

#StPete Mayor @Kriseman not taking any chances despite confidence in MOU passage; reviewing differences in deal from 1yr ago.

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

.@Kriseman says MOU has incentives for #Rays to stay in #StPete. City can pursue development at Trop right now. 85-acres worth? $1 billion.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

Mayor @Kriseman: "Councilmembers, I believe your support today will give StPete its best chance to (keep #Rays)."

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

Citizen speakers now have the floor

Now on public comment. First speaker is local gov't critic & former council candidate who urges council to reject #Rays MOU.

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

Dan Harvey cites recent move of NFL's @STLouisRams to LA as example of teams on the move. Says council should wait on #Rays deal.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

4th speaker opposes deal. That's 3-1 opposed so far for those counting in public comment portion of #Rays deal.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

."Cockamamie" has just been uttered to describe #Rays deal by 4th speaker. Suddenly, my grandmother, born in 1908, pops into mind.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

5th speaker in favor of deal. 3-2 now. He says @RaysBaseball brings ec. impact to TB.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

#StPete chamber CEO Chris Steinocher is 6th public speaker & 3rd in favor of MOU deal. 2015 interview w/him here: https://t.co/zUtTK3EnL5

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

Steinocher says city has lost relocation deals bc of uncertainty surrounding @RaysBaseball. #Rays

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

Public speakers now 4-3 in favor of #Rays deal.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

The vote is coming after councilmen speak

.@stevekornell says South St. Petersburg used by some as pawn in #Rays deal.Says @Kriseman is sincere in promising $5 million to southside.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

Councilman @stevekornell makes it clear he opposes MOU & knows he may be in minority now... (1/2)

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

...but Kornell tells his counterparts #Rays "are not a priceless asset - there is a price" to keeping them. (2/2)

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

#StPete council's other leading critic, Jim Kennedy, now making final pitch to reject MOU: "I think in reality...#Rays will only pay $10M."

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

#StPete councilman Kennedy: "I think we're negotiating away our development rights too quickly" to incentivize #Rays to stay downtown.

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

.@EdMontanari praising @RaysBaseball community service. Says he feels like #Rays deal is "high noon at OK Corral."

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

.@EdMontanari says he's concerned #Rays deal would pit Tampa v. #StPete.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

.@ElectKarlNurse on #Rays deal: Start redeveloping Trop site ASAP. "Can we start tomorrow, please?" @Kriseman promises quick action.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

.@CharlieGerdes 90% of conversations he has: Keep the @RaysBaseball in #StPete. He says he supports #Rays deal as best chance to keep team.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

.@CharlieGerdes says he doesn't believe #rays deal is a scam for team to flee TB market. Taking Sternberg at his word, he says.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

.Nurse, Gerdes, Rice all voice support for #Rays deal. But @stevekornell, a strong no vote previously, didn't reveal much when he spoke.

— Charlie Frago (@CharlieFrago) January 14, 2016

Gerdes says he is voting for proposed #Rays agreement.

— Waveney Ann Moore (@wmooretimes) January 14, 2016

Kornell says nothing in #Rays proposed agreement that guarantees they will stay.

— Waveney Ann Moore (@wmooretimes) January 14, 2016

Council chair @AmyforStPete, a one-time "no" vote on #Rays MOU, says "the opportunity in front of us cannot be missed at this point."

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

Council chair @AmyforStPete closes her thoughts w/endorsement of @Kriseman MOU with #Rays. "It's the only path forward."

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

Kornell seems to be on the defensive. Montanari thinks that this is a business deal and says he tries to look at all sides.

— Waveney Ann Moore (@wmooretimes) January 14, 2016

Mayor @Kriseman again tells council #Rays were unwilling to compensate city for skipping final yr of contract & they wouldn't pay any more.

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

Voting time

St. Pete City Council approves deal in 5-3 vote to let #Rays look for stadium sites in Hillsborough and Pinellas

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) January 14, 2016

#Rays to speak to press in 30min at Tropicana Field

— Shadow of Stadium (@StadiumShadow) January 14, 2016

That concludes the live coverage