Pinellas County commissioners voted again Tuesday night to delay a key vote on a deal to build a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium. Why it matters: Another delay means more uncertainty over a region-defining plan to transform the site of Tropicana Field into a new ballpark surrounded by a redeveloped Historic Gas Plant District.

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.

The vote to delay the purchase of bonds to construct a new stadium came shortly after a letter from the Rays to the commission said the delays are making the deal unaffordable.

Pinellas County commissioners voted 6-1 on Tuesday to again delay issuing bonds to fund the $312.5 million it already agreed to spend on a new $1.3 billion stadium in St. Petersburg. Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg has said the team could relocate if the deal doesn't go through as is.

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.

With a crucial vote scheduled Tuesday for the Pinellas County Commission on previously-delayed stadium bonds, the Tampa Bay Rays’ owner is saying a move to another city isn’t off the table. The commission is scheduled to vote on the $335 million worth of bonds to help build a new $1.

Pinellas County commissioners will take up the debate Tuesday over $312.5 million in funding to help pay for a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.