by Steve Carney

Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg has released a statement responding to Mayor Bill Foster's letter rejecting the team's request to amend the lease between the city and the team to allow the Rays to explore stadium proposals in Hillsborough County.

"Our stance has been and continues to be that only a regional dialogue will preserve baseball for generations of Tampa Bay fans.  We are both surprised and disappointed by the letter from Mayor Foster today.  City Attorney John Wolfe had indicated there would be a public meeting for council members to discuss the City’s reply to our October 11th proposal.  We had been looking forward to that discussion and we look forward to our upcoming meetings with the Hillsborough and Pinellas Boards of County Commissioners.  We invite all interested parties, including the St. Petersburg City Council, to join the conversation."