Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Bay Times article on Rays:
Hillsborough commissioners to Tampa Bay Rays president: Hope to see you here soon
Wednesday, August 5, 2015 3:26pm
TAMPA — Tampa Bay Rays brass stopped by the Hillsborough County Commission meeting Wednesday to talk up a new initiative for veterans and active military. But a couple of commissioners couldn’t resist making a few not-so-subtle quips about moving the Rays to their side of the Bay.
After Rays President Brian Auld touted the early success of “Honor Pass” — a program launched in July that allows veterans and active servicemen and women to get two free tickets to attend Rays home games — Commissioner Sandy Murman told Auld she was “proud of you and what you’ve done.”
And she was “just very excited for what it brings for the future, hopefully here in Tampa as we go forward.”
“We won’t ask you to comment on that,” Murman quickly added.
The Tampa Bay Times did.
As usual, Auld wouldn’t say much about discussions to move the Rays to Hillsborough County.
“We’re doing what we can,” Auld said after his appearance. “We’re 100 percent committed to Tampa Bay and we’ll continue to be that way.”
He did say he has met with “all the candidates who have asked to meet with me” in the race to replace St. Petersburg City Councilman Wengay Newton, an opponent of a deal that would allow the Rays to search for a new stadium in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and a key swing vote. Those candidates are Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Aaron Sharpe, he said.
“We’ve had pleasant conversations but as I’ve said before the Rays don’t elect city council members, the citizens of St. Petersburg do and we don’t want to exert an undue influence on that process,” Auld said.
During his presentation about the veterans programs, Auld said more than 10,000 current and former servicemen and women have already taken advantage of the free tickets in just six home games since the program started July 24.
Commissioner Ken Hagan, the most active commissioner in luring the Rays across the bay, was effusive in his praise of the organization’s community outreach efforts and let it be known he wasn’t done trying to find a spot for the team in Hillsborough.
“The team’s performance and efforts for a new stadium are well documented but I want to thank you for your commitment to improving the quality of life for our community,” Hagan said. “The Rays organization is certainly a model corporate citizen, and I close by saying: Look forward to seeing you here in the not too distant future.”
