Images: Tampa Bay Rays/Populous
The Tampa Bay Rays have dropped plans to develop a new ballpark in the city of St. Petersburg, with the news again raising questions over the MLB franchise’s long-term future.
Stuart Sternberg, principal owner of the Rays, made the announcement in a statement yesterday (Thursday) ahead of a March 31 deadline for the team to meet certain requirements that would have moved the project forwards. The team’s decision means the ballpark plan will now be terminated.
Sternberg said: “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 organisation is unwavering. We continue to focus on finding a ballpark solution that serves the best interests of our region, Major League Baseball, and our organisation.”
Road to Rays decision
In December, Pinellas County signed off on its portion of the financing needed for the proposed $1.3bn (£1bn/€1.2bn) ballpark for the Rays, placing the onus on the franchise to determine whether to press forward with the project.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners adopted a supplemental bond resolution and approved the form of documents for the financing of a new Rays stadium. In a 5-2 vote, the Board agreed to move the stadium deal forward, with recognition that the Rays must meet specific criteria by March 31 for bonds to be issued.
Adopting the supplemental bond resolution was an additional step for the Board after reaching agreements with the City of St. Petersburg and Rays last summer concerning the funding, construction, and ongoing operations of the new stadium.
In July, the Rays had said they looked forward to building the “best neighbourhood ballpark in Major League Baseball” after clearing what appeared to be the final key hurdle for a Populous-designed stadium project that had been 17 years in the making.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approved an historic partnership with the City of St. Petersburg and the Rays to build a multi-purpose ballpark that will anchor the City’s transformative $6.5bn Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment project.
The Commission voted 5-2 to contribute $312.5m of bed tax revenues toward the stadium design and construction. This tourist development tax provides revenue which the County can legally spend on a limited range of projects meant to encourage tourism, including sports venues.
The County vote came after the Rays took a “huge step forward” towards ending their near two-decade search for a new ballpark earlier in the month after St. Petersburg City Council approved the Historic Gas Plant District Redevelopment scheme.
This earlier announcement also included the news that construction and development firm, Skanska, had been approved to oversee the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant property and the design and construction of a new MLB stadium for the Rays.
Pinellas County Commission was in-line to potentially have the crucial final word on the ballpark deal after St. Petersburg City Council voted to approve its side of the financing deal for the project earlier in December.
Hurricanes hit planning
Having appeared to have been on a smooth road to final approvals earlier in 2024, the stadium project for the MLB team was dealt substantial blows in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which in October caused major damage to the team’s current home, Tropicana Field.
A vote on the funding resolution was deferred by Pinellas County on October 29 in the aftermath of the hurricanes, and again on November 19, after two newly elected commissioners took office. Following the latter decision, the Rays subsequently stated the planned 2028 delivery of the stadium had been ruled out.
The City of St. Petersburg was set to spend $417.5m on the mixed-use district – $287.5m for the stadium and $130m on infrastructure. The Rays’ anxiety over the delays was tied to its side of the financing deal. Under the agreed-upon contract, the Rays were responsible for $700m for the stadium, plus significantly, all cost overruns incurred by any delay.
Responding to yesterday’s announcement from the Rays, St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth Welch said: “While the decision of Tampa Bay Rays ownership to terminate the agreements for a new stadium and new development is a major disappointment, it is not unexpected.
“As for the future of baseball in our city – if in the coming months a new owner, who demonstrates a commitment to honouring 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.”
While Welch said he remained hopeful that the Historic Gas Plant District plans could still include a new MLB stadium, the mayor said he would not longer negotiate with Sternberg and his administration. “I have no interest in working with this ownership group,” Welch told the Tampa Bay Times. “That bridge has been burned.”
Future outlook
The Rays will spend the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa after the damage caused to Tropicana Field made it unusable. George M. Steinbrenner Field is the spring training home of the New York Yankees and has a capacity of 11,000.
The Rays in January backed a plan from the City of St. Petersburg to carry out repair work at Tropicana Field that would allow the team to return to the stadium for the 2026 season. Sternberg added yesterday: “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.”
The Rays’ current usage agreement for Tropicana is due to end after the 2027 season, but includes a clause extending it by a year for every season the stadium is deemed unusable. That, in theory, extends the agreement through 2028, with St. Petersburg City Council due to vote on March 27 on whether it will proceed with repair work.
The Times said Tampa is now expected to be the Rays’ next target in finding a long-term home. “I am disappointed to hear that the Rays don’t intend to follow through with stadium plans in St. Petersburg,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement.
“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.”
The Athletic reported last week that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and several owners were pressuring Sternberg to sell the Rays, adding that several potential buyers were interested. The League said in a statement yesterday: “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.”
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