ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council provided a significant update on Thursday regarding the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed new baseball stadium by approving the issuance of bonds designed to finance the $1.3 billion project.
This vote represents just one aspect of the entire proposal; the Pinellas County Commission is also required to consider its portion of the funding. They are expected to vote on this matter later in December. For the upcoming season, the Rays will play in the New York Yankees’ spring training facility, Steinbrenner Field, in Tampa due to damages at Tropicana Field caused by a recent hurricane.
According to the Rays, returning to Tropicana Field next year may be unfeasible and could potentially be postponed until as late as 2026. The vote that took place on Thursday centered on the issuance of bonds that could pave the way for a new ballpark, which may be ready by the start of the 2028 season. This follows a period of uncertainty regarding the financing plan after the county expressed hesitation, even though the overall framework was given the green light by both the city and county last summer.
The envisioned stadium is part of a broader $6.5 billion initiative known as the Historic Gas Plant District, aimed at revitalizing the urban area. This project seeks to rectify historical injustices that saw Black residents displaced in order to make way for Tropicana Field and a highway built on the valuable downtown St. Petersburg land.
Deborah Figgs-Sanders, chair of the St. Petersburg City Council, expressed that the initiative’s significance extends beyond just baseball. “For me, this goes beyond the game; we are fulfilling our end of the agreement,” she stated, emphasizing that the city is maintaining its commitment.
The forthcoming decision lies with the Pinellas County Commission, which will determine whether to issue bonds funded through tourist taxes that are prohibited from being allocated for purposes like hurricane recovery. This crucial meeting is scheduled for December 17.
Currently, the Rays have opted not to provide further comments, but in earlier statements, the organization affirmed its intent to adhere to the existing arrangements and remain in St. Petersburg.
Tropicana Field, the team’s venue since 1998, suffered substantial damage during Hurricane Milton on October 9, resulting in significant destruction to its roof and water-related issues inside. An assessment released by the city of St. Petersburg, which owns the stadium, has indicated that the necessary repairs will amount to an estimated $55.7 million.
