![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/KatCammack-DigitalAds-floridaPolitics-2025-728x90-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhile it\u2019s now painted with neon green and yellow accents to support the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team that now calls the stadium home, for generations it was a baseball stadium used as a Spring Training location.<\/p>\n
Constructed in 1947, the stadium has served as Spring Training home to the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, New York Giants and Baltimore Orioles. Baseball greats such as Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio have taken the field there. Al Lang Stadium, named after a former St. Pete Mayor, was also the site of a proposed waterfront stadium to house the Rays that failed in 2008.<\/p>\n
Crist himself previously worked at Al Lang Stadium as General Counsel for Minor League Baseball.<\/p>\n
The ad not only features images of Al Lang Stadium, but also a montage of historic clips from games played in Tropicana Field, as well as Rays-related headlines.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur city has a proud baseball tradition,\u201d Crist continues in the ad. \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed to enjoy many of these moments, like reviving the Governor\u2019s Baseball Dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Governor, Crist participated in the annual dinner to support baseball. He hosted the dinner in 2010 with guests including Hall of Famer Andre Dawson and then-MLB Commissioner Bug Selig.<\/p>\n The ad briefly touches on the politics behind baseball in St. Pete, which hosts the Tampa Bay Rays\u2019 current home at Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n Following back-to-back hurricanes in 2024, including Hurricane Milton that damaged the Trop, previous Rays leadership backed out of its agreement with the city of St. Pete and Pinellas County to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District where Tropicana Field is located. Now, the team is planning to move across the Bay to Tampa, a move that has frustrated some in St. Pete.<\/p>\n \u201cOur community is facing important decisions about the future of baseball. It\u2019ll be important we have leaders with the right vision,\u201d Crist says in the ad before pivoting away from politics.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, let\u2019s put that aside and cheer on our team,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cplay ball!\u201d<\/p>\n The ad is running on Bay News 9, the Rays network, MS NOW and Fox News.<\/p>\n Crist has not officially entered the race for Mayor, but when he does, he\u2019ll be a leading contender.<\/p>\n A recent poll found Crist holding an early edge in the crowded race, leading with 23% support<\/a> to Welch\u2019s 19%. No other candidates, which include St. Pete City Council member Brandi Gabbard, former city Fire Chief Jim Large, former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf and perennial candidate Maria Scruggs, reached double-digit support in the poll.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768481712_621_unnamed-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n