The Tampa Bay Rays Confirm Commitment to New Ballpark Amid County Commission Dispute

In a dynamic exchange with the Pinellas County Commission, the Tampa Bay Rays have reaffirmed their commitment to building a new $1.3 billion ballpark. This follows a recent ultimatum from the Commission, prompting the Rays to assert in a letter on Monday that their deal remains "in effect."

This correspondence is the latest development in the ongoing negotiations between the MLB franchise and the county. On November 19, Rays presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman expressed concerns that the team might not proceed with the stadium deal. They highlighted that despite investing over $50 million into the project, the county had "suspended work on the entire project," jeopardizing the proposed 2028 opening.

In response, Pinellas County Court Commission chairperson Kathleen Peters issued a letter on November 25, asking Auld and Silverman to clarify their position by December 1. Silverman responded on Monday, stating that the various agreements are still active until terminated by a party or until key dates are missed.

"The Rays have fulfilled its obligations to date and continue to wait for decisions and actions by the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County," Silverman wrote. He emphasized that the team would not have proceeded with the project if future county commissions could revoke prior approvals or unilaterally delay completion into 2029.

Silverman also addressed allegations regarding a conversation between Auld and Pinellas County commissioner Brian Scott, which raised doubts about the Rays' commitment. He clarified that the discussion mainly revolved around near-term challenges due to damage at Tropicana Field and the logistics of home games in 2025. Auld, he insisted, did not waver in his commitment to the new ballpark project.

​The path forward for the county remains unclear. Last month, the Pinellas County Commission voted 6-1 to postpone its final decision on approving bonds until December 17. As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the next steps taken by both the Rays and the county to resolve this stalemate and move forward