Dickie V took to Twitter yesterday to point out that not everyone agrees with a recent letter to the Tampa Bay Times signed by a bunch of local rich guys, who not only support the idea, but also benefit from a taxpayer funded stadium plopped in the middle of Ybor City.
"Many ppl DO NOT AGREE WITH 36 EXECUTIVES that support a split concept with Montreal," tweeted Vitale. "I will save lots of cash as my season tickets for @RaysBaseball will be over."
Many ppl DO NOT AGREE WITH 36 EXECUTIVES that support a split concept with Montreal.I will save lots of cash as my season tickets for @RaysBaseball will be over . I AGREE with @JPPetersonshow @TBTimes_Rays
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 13, 2022
(Via Tampa Bay Times)k . https://t.co/E4yGbEZTKl
Vitale then ended the post by stating he agrees with J.P. Peterson, a local sports podcaster and former radio host who is currently organizing a protest against the split-season concept later this spring.
Essentially, the "sister city" plan would allow his team to score two publicly-subsidized, half-used stadiums in Tampa and Montreal. No exact dollar amount has been publicly announced for Tampa's new "boutique" stadium, which would be built in Ybor City, but a poll sent out by Mayor Jane Castor's reelection campaign asked residents if they were cool with spending $350 million for the idea, with Sternberg reportedly paying another $350 million.