Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg announced Thursday that the team will not proceed with its proposed $1.3 billion baseball stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, due to hurricane-related delays and costly construction issues.
The decision comes after a series of unforeseen events led to the cancellation of the project, which aimed to replace outdated Tropicana Field as part of a $6.5 billion revitalization plan for the Historic Gas Plant District.
Sternberg stated that his organization remains committed to finding a suitable ballpark solution for the region, with a focus on serving the best interests of Major League Baseball and the local community.
Under their current contract with the city of St. Petersburg, the Rays will continue playing at Tropicana Field until 2025, after which their future in the Tampa Bay area becomes uncertain.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed support for finding a permanent home for the team, while also acknowledging the disappointment to the St. Petersburg community.
The proposal faced initial excitement but ultimately stalled due to financing delays, with local government agencies approving bond sales but requiring the team to meet specific conditions before securing public financing.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44236578/tampa-bay-rays-not-moving-forward-new-stadium-plans