In the hours preceding the Commission meeting, the Rays sent what has been described as a warning letter claiming the team had “suspended work on the entire project” and not just the new stadium.

The Commission agreed to hold a new discussion at the board’s next meeting on Dec. 17. The board determined that despite pleas from the Rays, waiting until then would not pose any problems or create additional delays because the appellate period for bond validation will not be over until January 14 anyway.

Nowicki beat incumbent Charlie Justice, a stadium supporter and the lone commissioner who voted against delaying the bond vote in October. He told the Times he is a “solid no vote” and he thinks the Rays want to blame the deal falling apart on the commission’s delay.