Tampa Bay Rays' New Stadium Faces Uncertainty Amid Hurricane Damage and Political Delays

The Tampa Bay Rays' plans for a new stadium have hit a major roadblock due to a combination of severe hurricane damage to Tropicana Field and political delays in financing. The team announced on Tuesday that it is highly unlikely the new stadium will be ready for the 2028 season, if at all.

In a letter to the Pinellas County Commission, Rays top executives revealed that the team has already invested $50 million in early work on the proposed $1.3 billion ballpark. However, progress has stalled due to delays in the approval of bonds for the public share of the costs. The letter, signed by co-presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman, expressed the organization's disappointment and frustration with the situation. They noted that the overall project had previously received approval from both the County Commission and the City of St. Petersburg.

"As we have made clear at every step of this process, a 2029 ballpark delivery would result in significantly higher costs that we are not able to absorb alone," the letter stated.

The series of unfortunate events began when Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field on October 9, forcing the Rays to play the 2025 season at the New York Yankees' spring training home, the 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Subsequently, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a planned vote on the bond issue on October 29, further disrupting the timeline for the new 30,000-seat ballpark. Although the commission was set to meet again on Tuesday to discuss the bond issue, its chair suggested that a vote could be delayed once more.

"We know we're going to be in Steinbrenner in 2025 and we don't know much beyond that," Auld said in an interview.

When asked about the long-term viability of Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay area, Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg admitted that the outlook is "less rosy than it was three weeks ago." He emphasized the team's commitment to keeping the Rays in the area, despite the challenges they have faced over the past 20 years.

The team's contract with the city of St. Petersburg requires them to play three more seasons at Tropicana Field, assuming it can be repaired. The cost of fixing the ballpark in time for the 2026 season is estimated at over $55 million, despite plans to demolish the building once the new facility is ready.

Under the original plan, Pinellas County would contribute approximately $312.5 million towards the new ballpark, while the city of St. Petersburg would invest around $417 million, including infrastructure improvements. The Rays and their partner, the Hines development company, would cover the remaining costs, including any overruns.

The new Rays ballpark is part of a larger urban renovation project known as the Historic Gas Plant District. This project aims to transform an 86-acre tract in downtown St. Petersburg, which was previously home to a predominantly Black neighborhood displaced by the construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate highway spur. The broader $6.5 billion project includes plans for a Black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green space, entertainment venues, and office and retail space, promising thousands of jobs in the coming years.

​The future of the Rays' new stadium remains uncertain, but the team and its partners are determined to navigate these challenges and bring their vision to life.