ST. PETERSBURG - Facing widespread skepticism, the Tampa Bay Rays scuttled plans to seek a $60-million state subsidy to help pay for a new downtown waterfront stadium, a team executive said Monday.
Rays senior vice president Michael Kalt said the team will not push legislators for a state sales tax rebate during the 2008 session.
Kalt insists the decision will not derail the team's overall proposal or its ambitious timetable. The Rays still hope to build a $450-million waterfront stadium on the site of Al Lang Field that would be ready for play in 2012.
"We said from the beginning that we don't see the state money as crucial," Kalt said. "It's nice to have, but it's not essential. We're not in the business in pushing things through that we think are unrealistic."
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