Search begins for Rays stadium coalition members
ST. PETERSBURG (Bay News 9) -- The head of the coalition that is seeking a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays is moving forward in its search to find new members.
The coalition, which is called A Baseball Community, Inc., will have nine board members.
ABC chairman Jeff Lyash hasn't explained how he will fill the board, but Lyash, who is also the CEO of Progress Energy, hopes to have the members seated by Labor Day.
The group will make recommendations to the city and county about a possible stadium, including the location of the park and the means to pay for it.
According to Bay News 9's partner paper, the St. Petersburg Times, Lyash may consider these six people:
- Russ Kimball, the general manager of Sheraton Sand Key
- Steven Raymund, the former CEO of Tech Data
- Barbara Heck, the president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations
- Bob Stewart, a Pinellas County commissioner who supported the efforts to build Tropicana Field
- Dick Vitale, an ESPN commentator and Rays season ticket holder
- Frank Morsani, a local businessman and philanthropist