Tampa Bay’s shelves made the “difficult decision” to stop around $ 1.3 billion in stadium and land redevelopment. The project would have obtained the future of the MLB club in Saint Petersburg, Florida, with a cutting-edge stadium next to Tropicana Field.
The current Rays house is in repair after the stadium roof was strongly damaged by Hurricane Milton in October. The Rays will welcome the teams visiting Steinbrenner Field in 2025. The 11,000 -seat stadium serves as a spring house for New York Yankees.
The main owner of the Rays, Stuart Sternberg, said “a series of events” in October and that funding delays led to “this difficult decision”.
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An image of Drone shows the Dome of Tropicana Field, which was torn by Hurricane Milton in Saint Petersburg, Florida, October 10, 2024. (Bryan R. Smith / AFP via Getty Images)
“After a careful deliberation, we have concluded that we cannot go ahead with the new stadium and development project at the moment,” said Sternberg in a statement. “A series of events starting in October that no one could have predicted led to this difficult decision.”
Sternberg added that the organization remains determined to solve its stadium problem.
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“Our commitment to the vitality and success of the Rays organization is unshakable. We continue to focus on the search for a stage solution that serves the best interest in our region, the major baseball league and our organization.”
“Major League Baseball remains determined to find a permanent house for the club in the Tampa Bay region for their fans and the local community,” said MLB in a statement. “The Commissioner (ROB) Manfred includes the disappointment of the Saint Petersburg community from today’s announcement, but he will continue to work with elected officials, community leaders and shelves to secure the future of the club in the Tampa Bay region.”
Tropicana Field opened its doors in 1990 and was the home of the Rays since they took the ground in 1998. The mayor of Saint Petersburg, Ken Welch, a driving force behind what was nicknamed the initiative “here to remain” aimed at keeping the shelves in the city for another 30 years, said that the decision was disappointing, but “it is not unexpected”.
It is possible that the shelves can be sold, he noted.
Tropicana Field before a match between the Cubs of Chicago and Tampa Bay Rays. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA TODAY SPORTS)
“If, in the coming months, a new owner who demonstrates a commitment to honor his agreements and our community priorities are emerging, we will consider a partnership to keep Baseball in Saint-Pete. But we will not suspend the progress of our city while waiting for a collaborative and community baseball partner,” said Welch.
As part of their current contract with the city of Saint Petersburg, the Rays would play three additional seasons in their existing stadium after its repair. These repairs should be completed in time for the 2026 season.
“The city of Saint Petersburg is currently progressing plans to restore Tropicana Field for the 2026 season,” said Sternberg. “We are grateful for their efforts and are delighted to return to our field next spring.”
The damaged roof of Tropicana Field, the Maison des Rays de Tampa Bay of the Major Baseball League, after Hurricane Milton hit Terre in downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida, October 10, 2024. (Reuters / Octavio Jones)
The proposed stadium of 30,000 places is an element of signature of a revitalization project of 6.5 billion dollars wider known as the historic district of the gas factory, which refers to a black predominance district which was forced by the construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate motorway spur.
The Rays’ decision puts the broader project in the limbo.
The Rays had faced a deadline of March 31 to decide to continue to continue the new stadium project. Under the agreement previously approved by the City and the County of Pinellas, governments would cover approximately half of the cost of the $ 1.3 billion stadium, the Rays and their Hines development partner covering the rest, including cost exceeding.
