Rays withdraw from planned $1.3 billion ballpark in St. Petersburg, citing storms, delays

Boston Globe

14-03-2025

Displaced from the Trop in St. Petersburg, the Rays are set to play their home games this season across Tampa Bay at the Yankees' spring training home,
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The roof of the Tropicana Field, destroyed in October during Hurricane Milton, is expected to be repaired in time for the start of the 2026 season.
Mike Carlson/Associated Press
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'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,' MLB said in a statement. 'Commissioner (Rob) 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.'
The Trop opened in 1990 and has been the Rays' home since they took the field in 1998. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, a driving force behind what was dubbed the 'Here To Stay' initiative aimed at keeping the Rays in the city for another 30 years, said the decision was disappointing but 'it is not unexpected.' It is also possible the Rays could be sold, he noted.
'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,' Welch said.
Under their current contract with the city of St. Petersburg, the Rays would play three more seasons at their
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'The opportunity to play on the Tampa side could give insights into the Tampa Bay market as a whole that could be useful for the club moving forward,' Manfred said during a Wednesday interview with The Associated Press.
Poor attendance at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., has plagued the Rays since they first took the field in 1998.For now, the Rays are set to return to the Trop after a year across the bay.
'The City of St. Petersburg is currently advancing plans to restore Tropicana Field for the 2026 season,' Sternberg said. 'We are thankful for their efforts and are excited to return to our home field next spring.'
The proposed 30,000-seat stadium is a signature piece of a broader $6.5 billion revitalization project known as the Historic Gas Plant District, which refers to a predominantly Black neighborhood that was forced out by construction of the Trop and an interstate highway spur.
Supporters say the development would transform an 86-acre tract in the city's downtown, with plans for a Black history museum, affordable housing, entertainment venues, plus office, and retail space — and the promise of thousands of jobs.
That broader project, counting on the Rays ballpark to be an anchor, is also in limbo with this decision.
The Rays had faced a March 31 deadline to decide whether to continue with the new ballpark project. Under the agreement previously approved by the city and Pinellas County, the governments would cover about half the cost of the $1.3 billion stadium, with the Rays and their development partner Hines covering the rest, including any cost overruns.
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The Rays previously said a delayed vote in October on the final financing plan by the Pinellas County Commission was a factor increasing projected costs beyond the team's funding ability. The city already has approved its financing.