Tampa Bay Rays Announce No New Stadium—MLB Rumblings to Sell Team
The renderings were amazing. In 2028 the Florida ball club was set to enjoy a new home that was to be the jewel of the city. However, now things have changed and the organization has slammed on the brakes. In a shocking twist, the Tampa Bay Rays announce that there will be no new stadium, but instead they will work fervently to renovate Tropicana Field and get it ready for play in 2026.
Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg released this official statement:
“Opening Day is right around the corner, and we are eager and prepared for what promises to be an exciting and fun season of baseball. Thanks to our dedicated staff and players, our fans will experience the game in one of the most intimate settings in modern baseball history.
As we all recover from impacts of the hurricanes, we are incredibly grateful for the support from our fans and the wider Tampa Bay community.
We are especially appreciative of how our corporate partners have stepped up during this challenging time for our organization.
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 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.”
So in essence, what the Rays ownership is saying is that they will not fulfill their financial commitments to the previously proposed and agreed upon stadium. Therefore, the Tampa Bay Rays will not currently proceed with the development of a $1.3 billion baseball stadium in St. Petersburg. Even though Tropicana Field experienced substantial hurricane damage. Repairs would include needing to install an entirely new roof as well as completely new field or turf. Writer Gabe Lacques further mentions,
“A vote from the Pinellas County commission was set to occur in late October to free up the bonds for the [stadium] deal. But the hurricanes’ devastation – particularly Milton, gave area officials pause.
The Rays used the opportunity to sing a different tune – that this procedural delay would somehow imperil their ability to pay for their share of the stadium, plus cost overruns.
The team had until March 31 – three days after the team’s season opener at their temporary home – to commit the $700 million to the project. They decided to pull out even sooner than that, leaving several parties – the franchise, MLB, the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa and Pinellas County – in more limbo.”
Tampa Bay Rays Announce No New Stadium—MLB Rumblings to Sell Team
Furthermore, what Major League Baseball plans to do after these new revelations remains to be seen. However, sources say that the league is not thrilled. And that behind the scenes there is pressure for the Rays ownership to sell the team.
USA Today reports, “And now the club, whose Tropicana Field lease expires in 2027, faces a familiar interchange to their future. Owner Stuart Sternberg could sell the team – as Major League Baseball recently indicated it might prefer – or explore relocation. Option No. 3 – Sternberg’s group pursuing another deal in Tampa or St. Petersburg – would seem unlikely, even as the club intimated it would try again.”
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