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Two of MLB’s longest-running stadium albatrosses are both showing meaningful progress, said league commissioner Rob Manfred.
As an owners meeting this week in New York focused heavily on labor negotiations with the MLB Players Association and related media matters, the ballpark development efforts for the Rays and A’s each commanded attention, too.
Most urgently, the Rays recently received city and county approval on a non-binding memorandum of understanding for a $2.3 billion ballpark. The club is now seeking to finalize a stadium deal and needs to firm up what could be wavering political sentiment. The Rays are committed to paying $1.3 billion toward the stadium, plus all cost overruns, with another $976 million currently slated to come from public funds.
Despite the work that still needs to be done, Manfred said he is encouraged by the ongoing progress by the Patrick Zalupski-owned Rays. The current timing projection for the team and local authorities is to get more formal documents completed by mid-July, a critical step as the Rays intend to open a new ballpark in early 2029.
“We’re hopeful,” he said. “There remains strong community support. We think the [local] polling runs about 60-40 in favor of the stadium. And we’re hopeful that they get over the next hurdle.”
As that is unfolding, local authorities are also considering future needs to Raymond James Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Buccaneers, and that existing, publicly owned facility could take precedence over any baseball consideration.
Rising in Vegas
The A’s, meanwhile, made a presentation to the owners on their forthcoming ballpark in Las Vegas, showcasing a rapid pace of construction now unfolding.
The team broke ground last year on the new stadium, located along the famed Las Vegas Boulevard and featuring an unusual “spherical armadillo” design, and the new facility is on track for a 2028 opening.
“I’ve seen the facility in Las Vegas [coming] out of the ground, and I do think it’s going to be a real showcase for us. Really impressive,” Manfred said.
The club’s current and interim home of Sacramento has formally initiated a bid for a permanent franchise in MLB expansion. For many years, any consideration of the league adding a 31st and 32nd team has been contingent on the stadium situations for the Rays and A’s getting solved first.
Manfred, however, said the ongoing labor talks for the MLBPA are also now taking precedence.
“We’ve made clear to all the cities that have expressed an interest that this is a post-labor topic,” he said.
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