ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays announced Thursday that they will not proceed with the new stadium and surrounding development. This marks the end of a years-long process that the team and city/county thought had been settled last year.
"After careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at this moment," the Rays said on their official X page. "A series of events beginning in October that no one could have anticipated led to this difficult decision."
In gratitude for the continued support from our fans and community. pic.twitter.com/vVGHn6nrAA
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 13, 2025
Major League Baseball said shortly after the news broke that it remains "committed to finding a permanent home for the Club in the Tampa Bay region..."
“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. Commissioner 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."
Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala, who has been vocal about his concerns with the entire situation, said Sternberg should be ready to pay for the now-defunct deal.
When Stu sells perhaps he can pay back the taxpayers of Pinellas/St. Pete for the all the money that was spent on this deal. https://t.co/e8LGRm4ylh
— Chris Latvala (@ComChrisLatvala) March 13, 2025
The Rays' move was not completely unexpected. The team repeatedly questioned how the billion-dollar-plus stadium deal would proceed after delays in stadium bond votes. Those bonds were eventually approved, but the Rays said it took too long.
At the time, the Rays said the delayed votes would cause cost overruns that the team would not be able to cover.
The news from the Rays also comes just days after reports emerged that at least two groups were interested in purchasing the Rays from owner Stuart Sternberg. That news coincided with a report that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and other owners were also putting pressure on Sternberg.
The Rays' move appears to be the end of a multi-year campaign to get a new stadium and move out of Tropicana Park. The Rays, along with St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, finally reached a deal on a new stadium deal in 2024, just four years before the team's lease was to expire.
The announcement, at least for Rays fans, takes everything back to square one. The team now has to answer where it will play.
Tropicana Field's roof was destroyed by Hurricane Milton in 2024, leaving the Rays without a stadium to call home. The team decided to play regular-season games in 2025 at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.
For its part, the City of St. Petersburg did agree to move forward with a multi-million dollar plan to repair Tropicana Field.
However, with the team pulling out of the new stadium deal, the question is whether the city will continue with the repair plan for Tropicana Field.
The City of Tampa has always been a possible solution for the team, although years of negotiations have never produced a deal. Still, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said the city is ready to talk to the team again.
“I am disappointed to hear that the Rays don’t intend to follow through with stadium plans in St. Petersburg. The goal always has been to keep the team in Tampa Bay. The City, Tampa Sports Authority, and County are happy to speak with the team once again, but any proposal will have to make sense for our taxpayers and community.” Castor said.
Rays fans now have to hope that the team and the city/county have a Plan B for Tropicana Field and a new stadium.
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While current owner Stu Sternberg hasn't said he's ready to sell the Tampa Bay Rays, two groups have emerged as potential buyers.
