Tampa Bay Rays drop new ballpark plans

Image: Tampa Bay Rays

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Tampa Bay Rays have ditched plans to build a new ballpark as part of a redeveloped Historic Gas Plant District in St. Petersburg, Florida.

MLB.com said the Rays were facing a March 31 deadline to meet certain obligations showing their intent to move forward with the deal but that this agreement will now be terminated.

Rays’ Principal owner Stuart Sternberg said, “After careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at this moment. A series of events beginning in October that no one could have anticipated led to this difficult decision.

“Our commitment to the vitality and success of the Rays organization is unwavering. We continue to focus on finding a ballpark solution that serves the best interests of our region, Major League Baseball, and our organization.”

The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League East Division.

Their Tropicana Field home was badly damaged last fall when part of the venue’s roof was ripped off by a hurricane.

The Rays’ long-running search for a new stadium appeared to be over last July, when they celebrated the approval of a $1.3 billion ballpark as part of a massive, $6.5 billion redevelopment project on the 86-acre site of Tropicana Field, their home since their inaugural season in 1998.

But those plans became unsettled in early October when the Tropicana sustained significant damage during Hurricane Milton.

The Rays found a temporary home for this season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the Yankees’ Spring Training and Single-A ballpark.

Meanwhile, the Pinellas County Commission twice delayed a vote to approve bonds that would finance the county’s $312.5 million share of the new ballpark. The county commission and St. Petersburg City Council both eventually voted in December to approve their financing, covering $600 million toward the ballpark, but the Rays called for further negotiations.

According to the terms of the initial agreement, the Rays would have committed $700 million and covered any cost overruns for the ballpark, which was set to open in 2028.

But the club has said the county’s delays forced them to push back the stadium’s opening by a year, making it unrealistic for them to solely afford the increased cost of construction.

Following their announcement to end the new ballpark plan, MLB issued a statement reiterating its support for keeping the Rays in the area.

It said, “Major League Baseball remains committed to finding a permanent home for the Club in the Tampa Bay region for their fans and the local community.

“Commissioner Manfred understands the disappointment of the St. Petersburg community from today’s announcement, but he will continue to work with elected officials, community leaders, and Rays officials to secure the club’s future in the Tampa Bay region.”

In a statement, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said the Rays’ decision is a major disappointment but not surprising.

Welch also said the city will consider a phased approach to redeveloping the land, and that it intends to honor its current commitment to repair Tropicana Field in accordance with the current use agreement.

He added, “As for the future of baseball in our city — if in the coming months a new owner, who demonstrates a commitment to honoring their agreements and our community priorities, emerges — we will consider a partnership to keep baseball in St. Pete.

“But we will not put our city’s progress on hold as we await a collaborative and community-focused baseball partner.”

The St. Petersburg City Council is scheduled to vote on March 27 regarding whether the city will repair the Tropicana. The Rays have said they hope to be back at their home ballpark for Opening Day in 2026, which Sternberg reiterated in his statement.

He said, “The City of St. Petersburg is currently advancing plans to restore Tropicana Field for the 2026 season. We are thankful for their efforts and are excited to return to our home field next spring.”

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