TAMPA — Tampa Bay Rays executives met with Tampa and Hillsborough officials Monday to go over a half-dozen or more potential sites for a new ballpark, but this time the Florida State Fairgrounds was not in the mix.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan said after the 90-minute meeting he felt confident that going forward neither side is likely to discuss the fairgrounds as a possible stadium site for a couple of reasons. It’s not urban enough for the Rays, and it’s just too far away from St. Petersburg.
But Rays president Brian Auld, County Administrator Mike Merrill and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said it’s still too early to count out any site.