Danielle Solzman
The Tampa Bay Rays have announced their decision to forego funding for a new stadium and focus on renovating Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg released a statement about their decision on March 13, 2025:
Opening Day is right around the corner, and we are eager and prepared for what promises to be an exciting and fun season of baseball. Thanks to our dedicated staff and players, our fans will experience the game in one of the most intimate settings in modern baseball history.
As we all recover from impacts of the hurricanes, we are incredibly grateful for the support from our fans and the wider Tampa Bay community. We are especially appreciative of how our corporate partners have stepped up during this challenging time for our organization.
After careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at the 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 organization is unwavering. We continue to focus on finding a ballpark solution that serves the best interest of our region, Major League Baseball, and our organization.
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.
MLB released a statement:
“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.”
It is not an understatement to stress just how much Hurricane Milton had an impact on future plans. The damage to Tropicana Field’s rooftop was devastating to say the least. It is going to cost an estimated $55.7 million just to repair the field.
The initial plans had targeted a 2028 opening of a new stadium in a redeveloped Historic Gas Plant District in St. Petersburg. While the Rays will be playing their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025, it’s probably for the best that the team is putting their efforts into renovations. If anything, the club could probably revisit the ballpark situation down the road. This will most likely end up being what happens. If not now, when, right?
We’re just going to have to wait and see what happens. But for now, it appears that the Tampa Bay Rays are committed to staying in the Tampa Bay area. Their original use agreement for Tropicana Field is now extended through 2028. After that, it’s anybody’s guess as to what happens.
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