ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – It was more than four years ago when the Rays last held a news conference regarding a new stadium. It was June 2019 at the Dali Museum on St. Petersburg’s waterfront.
It was a surreal afternoon, indeed, as owner Stu Sternberg touted a split-city plan with half the games in a new stadium in St. Pete and half in Montreal. While he maintained it was not a ploy to gain leverage with the city, the proposal was equal parts unpopular and head scratching.
MLB nixed the idea in January 2022. In January of this year, St. Petersburg mayor Ken Welch selected the Rays and their development partner, Hines, to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site, the former Historic Gas Plant District, into a multi-use property.
That brings us to Tuesday morning when the Rays, Welch and officials from the city of St. Petersburg as well as Pinellas County held a press conference within Tropicana Field to announce all concerned have agreed to a deal for a new stadium. The team’s 30-year lease agreement at the Trop expires after the 2027 season and the new stadium, with a new 30-year lease, would be ready for the 2028 season.
“In January of this year, Mayor Welch chose the Hines/Rays proposal,” said Sternberg. “Today, we celebrate coming to terms on an agreement to make that plan a reality. Major League Baseball is here to stay.”
In the news: Tampa Bay Rays Announce Historic Development Agreement, Partnership With St. Petersburg
The plan is to build a $1.3-billion 30,000-seat stadium adjacent to the current venue. The team would pay approximately $700 million of the cost with the city and county contributing the rest.
Even with the Rays’ success in recent years, attendance has continued to lag at Tropicana Field and is often near the bottom of MLB. They are 26th this season with an average of 17,778 fans per game.
The stadium is situated away from the bulk of the region’s population and often not easy to get to, especially on weeknights for those arriving from Tampa. As such, many fans hoped a new stadium would be built in downtown Tampa or close to downtown in Ybor City. However, nobody in Hillsborough County, for various reasons, but none bigger than financing, could pick up the ball and run with it.
Sternberg purchased the then-Devil Rays in 2005. Much has since changed within the region in terms development and growth on both sides of the bay. That is what everybody seems to be hanging their hats on.
“This region, and especially this city, are growing up around us and we are better equipped to support a Major League Baseball team,” said Sternberg, who in 2007 proposed to have ballpark built on the site of St. Pete’s Al Lang Stadium.
There is much to be done and many details to be revealed. The plan still has to be approved by city council and county commission. Also, 2028 is not far off.
Perhaps Brandi Gabbard, St. Petersburg City Council Chair, said it best during her time at the podium.
“While we gather to celebrate the fact that we are one step closer to ensuring Major League Baseball will be cemented in our city for decades to come….”
Indeed, the Rays, St. Pete and Pinellas are “one step closer.” While confidence is running high, it is not a done deal. At least things are moving along like they never have before.
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