ST. PETERSBURG — City council member Karl Nurse figures now that the bickering has ended and the Tampa Bay Rays are free to search the area for a new stadium site, more fans might be inclined to come to a few games.
“I do think the uncertainty and the negative comments that happened in the community the last few years hurt attendance,” said Nurse, who supported the agreement to let the team look outside the city. “The tenor is a lot better this year. They’re looking to stay in the area and looking to find the best spot.