It’s a debate that has gone back and forth, but now the Tampa Bay Rays have made the call.
The Tampa Bay Rays have announced their decision to withdraw from the proposed $6.5 billion stadium and downtown redevelopment project in St. Petersburg, Florida. This decision halts a two-year effort to construct a new ballpark and revitalize the Historic Gas Plant District.
The redevelopment plan encompassed an 86-acre site, featuring a 30,000-seat fixed-roof stadium. Beyond the ballpark, the proposal included 4,800 residential units—1,200 designated as affordable and workforce housing—1.4 million square feet of office space, 750,000 square feet of retail space, a 100,000-square-foot conference center, and a 750-room hotel. The stadium itself was projected to cost $1.3 billion, with the Rays committing $700 million towards its construction. The remaining funds were to be sourced from the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, primarily through tourist development taxes.
In October 2024, Category 3 Hurricane Milton struck the Tampa Bay region, causing extensive damage, notably to Tropicana Field—the Rays’ current home—where 18 of the 24 roof panels were torn off. This damage rendered the stadium unusable for the 2025 season. An assessment estimated that repairs would cost approximately $55 million, with the goal of having the stadium ready by the 2026 season.
Due to the damage sustained by Tropicana Field, the Rays announced plans to play their home games for the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training facility of the New York Yankees. In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of a March 31 deadline, Rays owner Stuart Sternberg expressed the team’s position:
“After careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at this moment,” team owner Stuart Sternberg said in the statement. “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 interests of our region, Major League Baseball and our organization.” – Tampa Bay Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch expressed disappointment over the project’s cancellation but remained optimistic about future opportunities. He noted the potential for new collaborations, especially considering the possibility of the team being sold, which could open doors to alternative development plans for the area.
The city intends to honor our current commitment to repair Tropicana Field in accordance with the current use agreement. As for the future of baseball in our city – if in the coming months a new owner, who demonstrates a commitment to honoring their agreements and our community priorities, emerges – we will consider a partnership to keep baseball in St. Pete. But we will not put our city’s progress on hold as we await a collaborative and community-focused baseball partner. – St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch
The decision to halt the redevelopment project casts uncertainty over the future of the Historic Gas Plant District’s revitalization. The area, once a vibrant African American community, has been the focus of redevelopment discussions for years. The Rays’ withdrawal leaves city officials and stakeholders contemplating other strategies to rejuvenate this significant part of St. Petersburg.
Both the Rays and city officials now face the task of charting a new path forward. The focus will likely shift to repairs at Tropicana Field and exploring new development opportunities to ensure the continued growth and vitality of the region.
