In a stunning turn of events, the Tampa Bay Rays’ ambitious plans for a state-of-the-art $1.3 billion ballpark have hit a major snag. The team revealed Tuesday that severe damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton, coupled with delays in securing public financing, have made it “highly unlikely” their new stadium will be ready for the 2028 season opener—if at all.
The news comes as a gut punch for the Rays organization, which has already invested $50 million in early work on the project. In a somber letter to the Pinellas County Commission, team co-presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman expressed their shock and disappointment at this “unfortunate turn of events.”
A Perfect Storm of Setbacks
The Rays’ stadium woes began on October 9th, when Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field, their home since 1998. The damage forced the team to relocate to the Yankees’ 11,000-seat spring training facility in Tampa for the entire 2025 season. Repairs to the Trop are estimated to cost over $55 million—a hefty price tag for a venue already slated for demolition.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Pinellas County Commission then postponed a crucial October 29th vote on the $312.5 million in bonds earmarked for the county’s share of the new ballpark. The Rays say this delay has thrown the entire project timeline into jeopardy.
“As we have made clear at every step, a 2029 ballpark delivery would result in significantly higher costs that we are not able to absorb alone,” Auld and Silverman wrote in their letter, emphasizing that the 2028 target is now all but impossible.
Under the original agreement, St. Petersburg would cover around $417 million, with the team and development partner Hines responsible for the rest, including any cost overruns. But with the price tag certain to balloon from the weather-induced construction delays, the public-private partnership is on increasingly shaky ground.
Looming Doubts Over Tampa Bay’s Baseball Future
The stadium bombshell has reignited questions about the long-term viability of Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay region. When asked point-blank if the sport can survive there, Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg offered a blunt assessment.
“We’re going to do all that we can, as we’ve tried for 20 years, to keep the Rays here for generations to come,” Sternberg said. “But the outlook is less rosy than it was three weeks ago.”
The Rays’ lease at Tropicana Field runs through the 2027 season, but that assumes the building can be repaired in time for 2026. If not, the team could be saddled with many more years at their inadequate temporary Spring home – or be forced to consider the once-unthinkable option of relocation.
A Ballpark About More Than Baseball
Losing the new stadium would be a devastating blow not just for the Rays, but for broader development plans in St. Petersburg. The ballpark is the centerpiece of an ambitious $6.5 billion reimagining of the city’s downtown, where Tropicana Field and an interstate once displaced a thriving Black neighborhood.
Plans for the 86-acre Gas Plant District include a Black history museum, affordable housing, green space, retail, and more. Thousands of jobs are promised. But without the Rays stadium and the tourism revenue it would generate, the future of the entire revitalization effort could be in peril.
A Franchise and City at a Crossroads
As the Pinellas Commission continues to debate the bond issue, pressure is mounting on all sides. St. Pete and the county have already committed substantial political and financial capital to keeping the Rays. But there may be a breaking point, especially if repair costs for the Trop continue to rise.
The team, for its part, has flirted with relocation in the past, even getting permission to explore a split season with Montreal. But the Rays insist they are still fully committed to the Tampa Bay region – as long as a viable long-term stadium solution can be found.
In the end, it may take a extra innings nail-biter to hold the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg through hurricane damage and construction delays. The next few months will be critical, as the team and its government partners try to keep their new ballpark dream alive – and with it, the promise of a brighter future for Rays baseball and the community it calls home.
Losing the new stadium would be a devastating blow not just for the Rays, but for broader development plans in St. Petersburg. The ballpark is the centerpiece of an ambitious $6.5 billion reimagining of the city’s downtown, where Tropicana Field and an interstate once displaced a thriving Black neighborhood.
Plans for the 86-acre Gas Plant District include a Black history museum, affordable housing, green space, retail, and more. Thousands of jobs are promised. But without the Rays stadium and the tourism revenue it would generate, the future of the entire revitalization effort could be in peril.
A Franchise and City at a Crossroads
As the Pinellas Commission continues to debate the bond issue, pressure is mounting on all sides. St. Pete and the county have already committed substantial political and financial capital to keeping the Rays. But there may be a breaking point, especially if repair costs for the Trop continue to rise.
The team, for its part, has flirted with relocation in the past, even getting permission to explore a split season with Montreal. But the Rays insist they are still fully committed to the Tampa Bay region – as long as a viable long-term stadium solution can be found.
In the end, it may take a extra innings nail-biter to hold the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg through hurricane damage and construction delays. The next few months will be critical, as the team and its government partners try to keep their new ballpark dream alive – and with it, the promise of a brighter future for Rays baseball and the community it calls home.
