The Tampa Bay Rays have withdrawn plans for a $1.3 billion new stadium in St. Petersburg, and the future of their home is in jeopardy. Recently, the team proposed a $600 million renovation of Tropicana Field, with hopes of extending their lease until 2038. However, city and county officials expressed dissatisfaction with the team's owner, and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch indicated a lack of interest in the ownership group. While repairs to the stadium are anticipated for the 2026 season, the city has reservations about extending the lease amid these financial proposals.
The future is unclear, as St. Petersburg and Pinellas County officials have expressed frustration with Rays owner Stuart Sternberg.
The Rays, within the past month, have floated the idea of renovating Tropicana Field beyond the roof repair.
St. Petersburg mayor Ken Welch said yesterday that he "(has) no interest in working with this ownership group" after their decision to pull out of the stadium deal.
Welch left the door open for reconsidering that idea in the future, saying he'd "talk with the council and with the community about the paths forward."
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