The Tampa Bay Rays have decided to halt a $1.3 billion stadium and land redevelopment deal that would have secured their future in St. Petersburg, Florida. The decision comes after the team’s current stadium, Tropicana Field, was damaged by Hurricane Milton in October. The Rays will temporarily play at Steinbrenner Field in 2025 while Tropicana Field is repaired. Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg cited “a series of events” in October and financing delays as reasons for the difficult decision.
Despite halting the new ballpark project, Sternberg emphasized the organization’s commitment to finding a stadium solution that serves the best interests of the region, Major League Baseball, and the Rays. Major League Baseball also expressed commitment to finding a permanent home for the club in the Tampa Bay region for their fans and the local community. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch noted that while the decision was disappointing, it was not unexpected. There is a possibility that the Rays could be sold, and the city will consider a partnership to keep baseball in St. Pete if a new owner demonstrates a commitment to honoring agreements and community priorities.
The current contract between the Rays and the city of St. Petersburg allows for the team to play three more seasons at Tropicana Field once repairs are completed. The city is currently advancing plans to restore the stadium for the 2026 season. The proposed new 30,000-seat stadium was part of a larger $6.5 billion revitalization project in the Historic Gas Plant District, which was a neighborhood primarily inhabited by Black residents before construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate highway spur forced them out. The Rays’ decision to halt the project puts the broader revitalization project in limbo.
The Rays had faced a deadline of March 31 to decide whether to continue with the new ballpark project. Under the previous agreement with the city and Pinellas County, the governments would cover about half of the $1.3 billion cost of the stadium, with the Rays and their development partner Hines covering the rest, including any cost overruns. The decision to halt the project is a significant setback for the team and the local community, as they now face uncertainty about the future of baseball in St. Petersburg and the broader redevelopment plans for the area.
Overall, the Rays’ decision to halt the stadium and land redevelopment deal has significant implications for the team, the city of St. Petersburg, and the broader Tampa Bay region. While the organization remains committed to finding a stadium solution, the future of baseball in the area is now uncertain. The decision to temporarily play at Steinbrenner Field in 2025 highlights the challenges faced by the team in securing a permanent home. The city’s efforts to restore Tropicana Field and the broader revitalization plans for the Historic Gas Plant District are now in limbo, leaving stakeholders with uncertainties about the future.
