Tampa Bay Rays Face Deadline to Commit to $1.3 Billion Stadium

The Tampa Bay Rays are up against a critical deadline. By Sunday, they must decide whether to commit to constructing a $1.3 billion stadium, a project initially approved in July.

Decision Time
Kathleen Peters, chairperson of the Pinellas County Commission, issued a letter on Monday to Rays presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman, urging them to make a decision on the stadium.

Team's Concerns
Last week, Auld and Silverman expressed reservations about the stadium deal in a letter to the County Commission. They indicated that the team might not agree to the current terms and is open to exploring alternative solutions within the area.

In the letter dated November 19, Rays officials highlighted that the new stadium could not be completed in time for the 2028 season. They also pointed out that opening the stadium in 2029 would be prohibitively expensive. The team claimed to have already invested over $50 million in the project, but alleged that the county had "suspended work on the entire project."

Financial Implications
"As we have informed the county administrator and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, the county's failure to finalize the bonds last month ended the ability for a 2028 delivery of the ballpark," the Rays stated in their letter. "A 2029 ballpark delivery would result in significantly higher costs that we are not able to absorb alone."

County's Response
In response, Peters dismissed the Rays' concerns, labeling the claim that a 2029 completion would be too costly as a "fallacious statement." She emphasized that the Rays are responsible for any additional costs that may arise with the project.

​With the deadline looming, the Rays' decision will significantly impact the future of their home games and the proposed $1.3 billion stadium project.