ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Here, on the precipice of a city’s future, they are selling Cracker Jack.
There is music, laughter and the occasional mascot running past. The future is expensive, contentious and entirely in doubt, and yet the mood is festive and the hot dogs are sizzling.
Sitting in the middle of all of this on Tropicana Field’s club level Friday night is the man in charge of procuring that future. He is wearing a replica Rays jersey and a disarming look of assurance.