The Rays of the Bay of Tampa have made the “difficult decision” to stop an estimated stadium and land re -banal agreement of $ 1.3 billion. The project would have assured the future of the MLB club in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a state of last generation next to the Tropicana field.
The current Rays house is under repair after the stadium roof was very damaged by Hurricane Milton in October. The Rays will welcome the visiting teams to Steinbrenner Field in 2025. The 11,000 -seat baseball stadium serves as the Spring Training House of the New York Yankees.
The main owner of the Rays, Stuart Sternberg, said that “a series of events” in October and the delays in financing led to “this difficult decision.”
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
An image of drones shows the Tropicana Field dome, which was torn by Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP through Getty Images)
“After careful deliberation, we have concluded that we cannot advance with the new stadium and development project at this time,” Sternberg said in a statement. “A series of events that begin in October that no one could have anticipated led to this difficult decision.”
Sternberg added that the organization is still committed to solving its stadium problem.
2025 mlb free agent firm, shops: athletics extends Lawrence Butler
“Our commitment to the vitality and success of the Rays organization is unwavering. We continue to focus on finding a stadium solution that serves the best interest of our region, the major baseball leagues and our organization.”
“Major League Baseball is still committed to finding a permanent home for the club in the Tampa Bay region for his fans and the local community,” MLB said in a statement. “The Commissioner (Rob) Manfred understands the disappointment of the community of St. Petersburg of today’s announcement, but will continue working with elected officials, community leaders and ray officials to ensure the future of the club in the Tampa Bay region.”
Tropicana Field opened in 1990 and has been the Rays house since they took the countryside in 1998. The mayor of St. Petersburg, Ken Welch, a driving force behind what was called the initiative “here to remain” aimed at keeping the rays in the city for another 30 years, said the decision was disappointing, but “it is not unexpected.”
It is possible that the rays can be sold, he said.
Tropicana Field before a game between the rays of Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports)
“Yes, in the coming months, a new owner who demonstrates a commitment to honor his agreements and emerges the priorities of our community, we will consider an association to maintain baseball in St. Pete. But we will not put the progress of our city waiting while we wait for a collaborative baseball partner and centered on the community,” Welch said.
According to his current contract with the city of St. Petersburg, the Rays would play three more seasons in their existing stadium after it is repaired. These repairs are expected to be completed in time for the 2026 season.
“The city of St. Petersburg is currently advancing plans to restore Tropicana Field for the 2026 season,” Sternberg said. “We are grateful for their efforts and we are excited to return to our local field next spring.”
The damaged roof of Tropicana Field, the house of the rays of the Bay of Tampa de las Major Leagues, after Hurricane Milton touched land in the center of St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024. (Reuters/Octavio Jones)
The proposed stage of 30,000 seats is an exclusive piece of a revitalization project of $ 6.5 billion broader known as the historical district of the gas plant, which refers to a predominantly black neighborhood that was forced by the construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate road spur.
The Rays decision puts the widest project in Limbo.
The Rays had faced a deadline of March 31 to decide whether to continue with the new stadium project. According to the agreement approved by the city and Pinellas County, governments would cover approximately half the cost of the stadium of $ 1.3 billion, with the Rays and their HIES development partner that cover the rest, including excessive costs.
