ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Due to significant hurricane-related destruction at Tropicana Field and ongoing political hurdles regarding funding, the Tampa Bay Rays have concluded that their proposed new stadium is unlikely to be completed in time for the 2028 season, if it proceeds at all. The team communicated this through a letter addressed to the Pinellas County Commission on Tuesday.
According to the Rays’ executives, they have already invested $50 million in preliminary work toward the new $1.3 billion facility. However, they indicated that they cannot continue with the project due to hold-ups in the approval process for public funding through bonds. In their letter, co-presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman expressed disappointment at this setback, pointing out that both the County Commission and the City of St. Petersburg had previously approved the project.
The letter further emphasized that a delayed completion, with a potential delivery date of 2029, would lead to additional costs that the team is not in a position to absorb by itself. This situation follows the recent damage caused by Hurricane Milton, which severely affected Tropicana Field when it tore off the roof on October 9. As a result, the Rays will have to use the New York Yankees’ spring training facility, Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, for the entirety of the 2025 season. The expected timeline for the new 30,000-seat stadium has been disrupted following the Pinellas County Commission’s decision to postpone an important vote on the bond issue that was originally scheduled for October 29.
The commission reconvened on Tuesday to revisit the bond matter, although its chair suggested that further delays might occur. Auld remarked that while they anticipate playing at Steinbrenner in 2025, the future remains uncertain. When discussing the long-term prospects for Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay area, Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg acknowledged that conditions now seem “less rosy” than they did just three weeks ago, affirming their commitment to keeping the team in the region for generations.
Per the existing contract with St. Petersburg, the Rays are required to play an additional three seasons at Tropicana Field, provided it is repaired. Upgrading the stadium to enable play by the 2026 season is estimated to exceed $55 million, even as the current facility is slated for demolition once the new stadium is built.
The initial framework for the funding arrangement included approximately $312.5 million from Pinellas County and around $417 million from the City of St. Petersburg, which would also cover associated infrastructure enhancements. The Rays and their development partner, Hines, would be responsible for the remaining expenses along with any potential cost overruns.
The implications of this situation extend beyond just baseball, as the new stadium forms part of a broader urban development initiative titled the Historic Gas Plant District. This project aims to revitalize a predominantly Black neighborhood that was displaced when Tropicana Field and an interstate spur were constructed. The entire $6.5 billion endeavor seeks to transform an 86-acre portion of downtown St. Petersburg, incorporating plans for a Black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green spaces, entertainment venues, and commercial spaces. Such developments promise to generate thousands of jobs for the local community as well.