ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners voted once again Tuesday to delay a vote on the financing portion of the Rays new stadium.

Commissioner Brian Scott said he made the motion to table the discussion because he didn’t think they had the votes to pass it.

The important bond vote that dictates the county’s portion of the stadium deal was first scheduled for October but was delayed as commissioners said they wanted to take a look at the cost of hurricane damage and the ways that could be addressed.

The next opportunity to approve the bonds would be on Dec. 17.

The delays have not sat well with the Tampa Bay Rays organization, though, as ahead of the meeting team officials delivered a letter to commissioners claiming the new stadium deal has been “jeopardized.”

In the letter, they claim the county not finalizing the bonds last month made getting the stadium done by 2028 impossible, and getting it done in 2029 would create more costs than the team claims they can handle.

The team added “we stand ready to work on a new solution with any and all willing partners to preserve the future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay...”

At the meeting, commissioners took issue with the letter signed by Rays co-presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman, both of whom were in attendance.

“I think the Rays’ strategy sucks, to be perfectly honest with you,” said Scott. “I think it has for quite some time. They are horrible communicators, and I think they’re the most politically tone deaf organization I’ve ever met in my life.”

Scott claims he first thought the team may be having second thoughts the day before the last vote to delay.

He says he asked Auld to make a public statement affirming the Rays’ commitment to St. Petersburg and the county.

“The response I got back was, ‘I’m doing everything I can to hold this deal together, because our revenue projects and our cost estimates have all gone in the wrong direction, and we are on the hook for all cost overruns’,” said Scott.

Ahead of the meeting, a critic of the initial deal commissioner Chris Latvala, has said the board has until March to vote on the bonds, and that the delay on the bonds vote shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

He reiterated as such during Tuesday’s board meeting.

“The process was delayed months because of delays on the Rays’ end for things that they wanted added to the deal, things that they wanted changed,” said Latvala. “And so by delaying, now, two votes after a hurricane, I don’t think that kills anything.” 

Meanwhile, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch released a statement after the meeting. 

“We appreciate the County Commission’s partnership and today’s discussion of their participation in funding a new Rays stadium. We believe the economic fundamentals, and the long term benefits of the agreements approved in July by all parties, remain valid.

"We are focused on moving forward with fulfilling our obligations under the existing use agreement. Partnership has always been key to this plan, and the success of the plan going forward largely depends on the commitment of our partners to those agreements. We will continue to work with our partners towards that successful outcome.”

Hillsborough commissioner says door remains 'open' in Tampa

Hillsborough County commissioner Ken Hagan says he spent 13 years spearheading the effort to bring the Rays to Tampa, and he says he’s been watching what’s happening in Pinellas County closely, saying as far as he’s concerned, the door remains open if the Rays want to reconsider Tampa.

“The bottom line was last year they choose to remain in St. Pete because St. Pete and Pinellas County would give them more upfront money, and so I wish them well, and I said if for any reason things do not work out in St. Pete, the door will be open here,” said Hagan.

Spectrum News spoke with Hagan after a meeting on Wednesday morning where county commissioners reelected him to be chair of the commission and re-appointed him to the Tampa Sports Authority board. This was before the Rays issued a letter saying their letter to Pinellas County commissioners.

Right now, the Rays are set to play next season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Hagan says he’s open to revisiting the conversation with the Rays about moving to Tampa, if it comes to that.

“A lot of things have to occur. I would anticipate Major League Baseball likely would intervene, and what I’ve said throughout the last 13 years when I’ve been speaking and encouraging the Rays to come here, you have to have a willing partner,” said Hagan.

Hagan says ultimately, the most important thing is keeping the Rays in Tampa Bay, whether that’s in Pinellas, or Hillsborough County.