Government Digest: May 28 - June 3

St. Pete sports alliance forms to promote city
ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Bill Foster, aiming to make his city the “Sports Capital of West Florida,” appointed a new community group, the St. Petersburg Sports Alliance. Mike Alstott, popular former fullback of the Tampa Bay Bucs, agreed to serve on the panel along with former Olympians, Major League baseball players, sports organization representatives and business leaders. In all, 10 sports are represented on the 42-member Alliance. One of the first tasks is to bring international baseball to Al Lang Stadium and the Walter Fuller Complex, which became available when the Tampa Bay Rays moved spring training to Port Charlotte. Jim Neador, a local sports consultant, is coordinating the effort.