Rays allowed to expand new ballpark search to Hillsborough

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – The Tampa Bay Rays’ search for a new home will extend to neighboring Hillsborough County under a deal approved by the St. Petersburg City Council.

The Tampa Bay Times (http://goo.gl/OnYk2T ) reports that the agreement approved Thursday gives the Rays 60 days to outline, in writing, the process the team will use to evaluate sites. The team also has agreed to take at least six months to do the search so St. Petersburg, which is located in Pinellas County, has a fair chance to keep the team.

Meanwhile, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn called the vote a “big step forward in the right direction.”

Tampa and Hillsborough County officials have set up a committee to put together a proposal. One likely site is Tampa Park Apartments, which is located inside a community redevelopment area between downtown Tampa and Ybor City.