Josh Wostal Rays Stadium Interview: Reaction & Listener Feedback

The Ryan Gorman Show podcast, presented by Farah and Farah, accident attorneys, Tampa. Joining us in studio, we have co-host of the Pat and Aaron Show on 957WDAE. Aaron Jacobson is with us. So. Very interesting day on Thursday of last week. We had Hillsborough County Commissioner Josh Wostle. He came to the studio to record an extended interview with us. And then after that was done, and if you haven't seen it yet, we've got it on YouTube. You can check it out to search for us and subscribe at Ryan Gorman Show. After that was done, I bring him down to your studio, Aaron, to talk to you and Pat. What did you think about that conversation? It was off air. It was just one of those situations where I guess... Take us back to the interview that you did with him on the show that apparently got, what, a little contentious, you would say? Yeah, I mean, listen, it wasn't very contentious. I was being respectful of our guests. I like to when you, if you're going to give us your time, come on. He just made some accusations on our show that I don't know if he, he says he didn't have enough time to back up the accusations, but he came on our airwaves. And we're calling people in the race organization, specific people by name, liars. And when you make accusations like that, yeah, you know, it can get a little contentious. And then afterwards on social media, I didn't like the way he was acting on social media more so than when he was acting during the interview, you know, kind of taunting what I would say raise fans, but constituents as well. I don't like that approach. So I thought it was a bit arrogant in his approach to it. So I didn't like him. And we talked about it on the air. And then you had him on. Yeah. And I asked him about that social media stuff. Like, you know, he's posting things. Emojis. And then, you know, just that part. I agree. Doesn't sit down. Childish. Yeah. You're like, okay, we get it. You have your stance. You have your position. You believe in it. Leave it at that. You don't have to be mocking people and going after people on social media. Especially with social media, I think people get wrapped up in it. You know, they get like, they get this high off of it and they're going back and forth. And we see that a lot, but you're a public official. You're in a serious position. This is a serious issue for their region. You shouldn't be doing it. He's the only one I'm seeing it from when it comes to these type of situations. So to me, that shows a lack of a lack of maturity. And I respect him a ton. He came in there and he talked to us off the air. It was a very...

Hey, you don't really like us. We don't really like you type of conversation, but we're going to be cordial and have this conversation. It was fascinating for me, just sitting back watching, you know, this free flowing conversation unfold. And from people that we were literally within the conversation being like, I don't really, in a way, I don't really like you. So it was, but I respect anyone who's going to come into the lion's den and have that conversation. And he gave his opinion. We gave our opinion. I still don't agree with everything he's saying because I think he nitpicks a little bit when it comes to this race stadium. That's my personal opinion. I know he's saying he's defending the people and making sure he's sticking up for the taxpayers and protecting their money. And I believe there's a certain aspect of that. And then there's a certain aspect of these guys are politicians and they have an agenda. And I want to know what that agenda is with him. Well, it's certainly raising his profile. There's no question about that. What I have noticed watching all of this unfold, and we're going to get some of the comments in just a bit that we got on Facebook to that video of our interview with Joshua Stoll. There does seem to be on the pro-raise ballpark get-it-built side. This idea like... Just stop asking questions. Just get it done. Just build the stadium. We're going to lose the race. Yes. There's a lot of that. There's a lot of that, that vibe. And to me, that's problematic. This is supposed to be a negotiation. And that's what I haven't liked about this from the beginning. It feels like Ray's ownership came in and said, here's the deal. Not a lot of wiggle room. this is what we're going to do. Right. Well, in my question was about how he said that they're told it's a $2.3 billion stadium, but he hasn't seen any type of plans or anything like that beyond what the public has seen. Like, do they have a construction plan that shows a layout of an estimate of what this is all going to cost? And he said that they don't have that. Right. That all he's seen is the renderings that the public has seen, but there's no actual construction plan that breaks down. This is going to cost this much. This is materials. This is design. Why did it balloon from? 1.3 billion in Pinellas to 2.3 billion in Hillsborough. Now I get, you know, he was saying maybe it could be 700 million. Well, not with a roof. Okay. That's not going to happen. It's impossible. Yeah. I don't know that it has to go. Up that high, though, with the roof. Have you seen any kind of detail breakdown? No, and it's his most legitimate concern and argument as far as I'm concerned. So that is true. There is no plan beyond what we've seen in those drawings. From what we've heard, yes. And a lot of it is behind the scenes. And then you've got to think about this as well. And I'm just going to throw it out there. How much do the raise want to maybe keep some of the people that they, you know, what's those? a no vote. Like nothing's going to change his mind. Right. So I think there's a portion of the raise ownership that go, forget about this guy. Like let him be a clown on social media. Let him do what he's doing. Right. You're never going to make him happy. Right. You're never. He's always going to find something else. So why let him on all these inner workings where nothing's changing that guy's mind? It can only go against you. I personally think there's a little bit of that at play. Yeah. I think you're right about that. They're focused on the potential swing votes and all of this. But I think for the people here in the Tampa Bay Area,

I mean, I like to see some details. I'd like to see a little more transparency to know exactly what's going on here. And I also think there's a big problem coming with the property tax issue because if that amendment passes, it's going to have a big impact. And you're starting to see some of the local politicians say, hang on a second. We might have to slow a roll a little bit here. That's where I'm the most concerned because that's where my head's spinning because... Ron DeSantis is the one who's been helping the raise try to get to this point, to get to the finish line. Yet this is his big deal. Well, the owner of the raise donated to his presidential campaign, but... Santa's looking ahead to 2028, and this is a legacy issue of this property tax deal. The raise ballpark issue, not as much. That ain't going to make a presidential run. Cutting property taxes here in Florida, that's something that you can run on. So I think there's that at play here, too. I don't think that kills it completely, by the way, for the raise. No, I don't think so. Yeah, no, I agree. I think, look, there's still a lot that's going to happen here. I definitely think there's a bit of a speed bump, and then you run up against, you know, the race have a timeline, and I think city officials and county officials maybe want to push that timeline back, and that's where it's going to get. Real interesting. This whole road is speed bumps. It's just one of those roads you go down and you're like, why can't I get past these speed bumps? All right, Aaron Jacobson, Co. So the Pat and Aaron Show on 957 WDAE with us, Aaron. Thanks so much. Thank you. You can follow us on Facebook at Ryan Gorman Show. And if you go there, you'll see the Josh Wollstall interview clip that we posted. And, of course, on our YouTube page, we get the full 30-minute interview that you can watch. So subscribe to that too. We keep it simple. Ryan Gorman Show on YouTube as well. a ton of comments. So much reaction to that interview. Christian said, find a way to make it work. Chicago just lost the Bears to another state. It would be a tragedy to lose them, speaking of the race, to Orlando, would just make Tampa look like a third-tier city when it comes to being a sports community. There were a number of replies from people who disagreed. with that comment. I will say if the raise were to leave the Tampa Bay Area, it would not be a good look for the region. Yeah, I don't think it would be doom and gloom for the Tampa Bay Area. I think we would move on and you would see a redevelopment project at the Trap site and maybe even one, you know, at this Hillsborough County Community College site down the road. But. It wouldn't be a great look overall. I will agree with that. I don't think it's an apples-apples comparison, though, with what the bears are dealing with in Illinois. Kim said anyone who believes going forward with the stadium without the vote on property taxes in November is foolish at best and delusional at worst. The stadium should also be put to a vote in November. I would have loved to have seen the stadium issue.

be put to a vote let the people vote on something this monumental for the region when you're talking about you know over a billion dollars in taxpayer money um and i also think you know moving forward with this without having a better understanding of what is going to happen with the property tax issue That's just not smart. Yeah, it's risky. I know. I know that delays the timeline, but look, we just spent $60 million repair in the trap. You're telling me they can't push that back one year and have opening day in a new ballpark, potentially 2030 instead of 2029. So we have a better idea of the property tax situation. Cam said zero taxpayer funds for the stadium. The billionaires should build their own stadium. If taxpayers fund this. then it should be completely free entry to every event at the stadium. That's right. Or at least show your Hillsborough County City of Tampa ID that you help pay for it. Yeah, yeah. Dan said this is a bad deal for taxpayers. It's a rush job and nothing good happens when not enough planning and budgeting is factored in. They need to pay for this themselves. Well, they're not going to pay for themselves. That's not going to happen. The question is, can you just get a bit of a better deal? I mean, I have said from the beginning, like a 60-40 deal with the raise taking... 64% of the burden, taxpayers, 40%. Then I think you're in a little bit of a better place. And I also think you have to factor in some of the giveaways the raise are getting, like the land and all of that, the state money. I think that needs to be factored into the equation as opposed to just conveniently being left out. Eric said, let the raise go play in Orlando. Let Disney and John Morgan pay for this nonsense. Kevin said, vote yes on the stadium. This is the kind of project that makes a city stand out. Just build it. I will say most of the responses were not. in favor of spending that much taxpayer money. on a ballpark. Right. And then Kevin said that was very informative in response to that clip and the interview. And I thought it was pretty informative. It was really informative. Yeah. Some of it was a little over my head and confusing, but I thought he answered a lot of questions and had a lot of good information. Yeah. I didn't agree with him on everything. And I think there are some questions about some things that he said. And that's why we're working to get somebody on. I think I'm going to reach out to Commissioner Ken Hagan today and see if we can get him on to give a bit of a different perspective on. all of this at some point this week. Follow the show and give us your hot take on TikTok and YouTube at Ryan Gorman Show, presented by Farah and Farah, accident attorneys Tampa.