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As Rays' Excitement Grows, Tampa Mayor Says Focus Is On Playoffs, Not Ballpark Talks

WUSF | By Wayne Garcia
Published October 9, 2019 at 4:39 PM EDT
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor roots on the Tampa Bay Rays with mascot Raymond at a watch party earlier in the Rays-Astros playoff series. She said talks for a new ballpark will have to wait. CREDIT: JANE CASTOR/CITY OF TAMPA VIA TWITTER
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor roots on the Tampa Bay Rays with mascot Raymond at a watch party earlier in the Rays-Astros playoff series. She said talks for a new ballpark will have to wait. CREDIT: JANE CASTOR/CITY OF TAMPA VIA TWITTER

The team’s playoff run also renewed questions about a new ballpark  after St. Pete officials gave the green light for talks to resume across the bay.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor was exuberant on the day after the Rays victory. She says the crowd and excitement for Game 4 shows that the region can support the team.

RAYS WATCH PARTIES: Where To See Deciding Game 5 Vs. Astros

Like the Rays, however, she says she is taking negotiations one game at a time.

"The only thing that we're focused on right now is getting to the World Series,” Castor said Wednesday. “And once we bring home that trophy, we'll find out where the best location is to store it."

A proposal to move the Rays to Ybor City failed last year. No other relocation sites have surfaced since.

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Wayne Garcia
Wayne Garcia is working with the WUSF newsroom and its digital media interns for the fall 2019 semester.
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