Rays decline to proceed with new stadium project, team owner confirms

The Tampa Bay Rays have made the “difficult decision” to suspend redevelopment contracts for the estimated $1.3 billion stadium and land. The project secured the future of the MLB club in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a state-of-the-art ballpark next to Tropicana Field.

The Rays' current home is undergoing repairs after Hurricane Milton severely damaged the stadium roof in October. The Rays will welcome their visiting team to Stein Brenner Field in 2025. The 11,000-seat stadium serves as the New York Yankees' spring training home.

Rays principal Stuart Sternberg said the “sequences of events” and delayed funding in October led to “this difficult decision.”

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“After careful deliberation, we concluded that we cannot advance the new ballpark and development projects at this time,” Sternberg said in a statement. “The series of events that began in October meant no one could have predicted this difficult decision.”

Sternberg added that the organization remains committed to solving the stadium problems.

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“Our commitment to vitality and success for the Rays organization is unwavering. We continue to focus on finding ballpark solutions that will serve the greatest interests of our local, major league baseball and organization.”

“Major League Baseball remains committed to finding permanent homes for Tampa Bay area clubs for the fans and the community,” MLB said in a statement. “Committee (Rob) Manfred understands the disappointment of the St. Petersburg community since today's announcement, but we will continue to work with elected officials, community leaders and Rays officials to ensure the club's future in the Tampa Bay area.”

Tropicana Field opened in 1990 and has been the Rays home since it won the field in 1998. St. Petersburg mayor Kenwelch said it was the driving force that was called the “Stay Here” initiative, which aimed to maintain the Rays for another 30 years.

He pointed out that the rays could be sold.

Tropicana Field before the match between the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays. (Nathan Laceybeck/USA TODAY SPORTS)

“In the coming months, new owners will be looking at partnerships that will keep baseball at St. Pete, as they will be waiting for a collaborative and community priorities to respect the contract, but we will not hold back on city progress as we are waiting for a collaborative and community-focused baseball partner,” Welch said.

Under the current contract with the city of St. Petersburg, the Rays will play three more seasons at the existing ballpark after being repaired. These repairs are expected to be completed in time for the 2026 season.

“The city of St. Petersburg is currently working on plans to recover Tropicana Field for the 2026 season,” Sternberg said. “We are grateful for their efforts and are excited to return to our home field next spring.”

Damaged roofs of Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball, after Hurricane Milton landed in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida on October 10, 2024. (Reuters/Octavio Jones)

The proposed 30,000-seat stadium is a distinctive part of the broader $6.5 billion revitalization project known as the historic gas factory district, referring to predominantly black neighborhoods that have been driven out by Tropicana fields and interstate spurs.

Rays' decision will bring a broader range of projects to scope.

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The Rays faced a deadline of March 31 and decided whether to continue with their new ballpark project. Under the agreement previously approved by the city and Pinellas County, the government covers about half the cost of the $1.3 billion stadium, with Rays and its development partner Hines covering the rest, including cost overruns.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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