• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

St. Pete Approves $1.3 Billion Rays Stadium, Ending Relocation Rumors

  • St. Petersburg’s city council formally approves the MLB club’s $1.3 billion stadium plan.
  • Team owner Stu Sternberg acknowledges prior ‘missteps’ but reaffirms his commitment to the market.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays

Nearly a generation of uncertainty surrounding the Rays and their status in the Tampa Bay market is now definitively ending as the St. Petersburg, Fla., city council on Thursday approved the club’s proposed $1.3 billion stadium and mixed-use development.

By the same 5–3 margin as a preliminary vote last month, the council gave the green light to a new, domed Rays stadium near the club’s current and much-maligned facility, Tropicana Field. The Rays’ plan for the new ballpark calls for the club to pay $700 million plus cost overruns, with the public sector contributing the remaining $600 million. 

Most meaningfully, the stadium deal finally ends years of relocation rumors and talk centered on the team’s low attendance at Tropicana Field.

“It is my belief that we are in an incredibly unique moment in our city’s history that is unlikely to be replicated in any other way that will be meaningful to our community,” said city council member Brandi Gabbard, one of the “yes” votes.

The city council vote was to approve a dozen legally binding agreements overseeing the funding and construction of the stadium and surrounding development in St. Petersburg’s Historic Gas Plant District. The matter now moves to the Pinellas County Commission to approve $312.5 million in tourist tax dollars, but the vote in St. Petersburg represented the key hurdle in the process.

Keeping the Faith

Despite the long period of doubt surrounding the Rays’ situation, both the club and MLB remained stalwart advocates of the market. 

“We’ve made a number of missteps over the years. We dust ourselves off. We come back again,” said Rays owner Stu Sternberg. “Things change in life, things change around in markets, and they change around in baseball. But as we’ve always been clear: We wanted to be here, and we want to be here to stay.”

Among those missteps was a prior, widely criticized plan by the club to split its season with home games in St. Petersburg and Montreal, an effort the club ultimately abandoned. The Rays released updated renderings (above) late last month on the planned St. Petersburg stadium, and they hope to break ground early next year in advance of a projected 2028 facility opening.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

Bud Selig: ‘Remarkable’ Brewers Run Can’t Mask MLB’s Money Divide

The former commissioner lauds his hometown team while raising economic concerns.

MLB’s Rare October Day: Four Playoff Games, Four Possible Clinchers

Four separate clinching opportunities are available during the day.
Maverick Carter, LeBron James
exclusive

New International Basketball League Plans Launch, Without Maverick Carter

The venture plans to launch men’s and women’s leagues next fall.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Nov 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of a Cleveland Browns helmet on a time out against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome.

Cleveland Takes New Shot at Blocking Browns’ $2.4B Stadium

A new lawsuit challenges a permit for the NFL team’s planned stadium.
Sep 23, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars forward Adam Erne (76) looks on during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center
exclusive
October 3, 2025

Dallas Stars Eyeing Possible Move to Plano in 2031

The team needs to figure out where they’ll play starting in 2031.
October 7, 2025

Rays Owner Eyes New ‘Forever Home’ Like Atlanta’s Battery

The club’s new owners target a new ballpark opening in 2029.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Chicago Bears stadium rendering
October 1, 2025

Bears Want $855M in Public Money for Suburban Stadium

The NFL team details an updated ask for public money.
September 29, 2025

A’s Unveil Sacramento Jerseys As Vegas Development Advances

The club unveils an alternate “Sacramento” jersey as Las Vegas plans advance.
Sep 28, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) breaks up a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Nabers was carted off the field with an injury after the play.
September 29, 2025

Malik Nabers’s Torn ACL Rekindles NFL’s Grass vs. Turf Debate

The Giants star tore his ACL on MetLife Stadium’s artificial surface.
September 25, 2025

NYCFC’s New $780M Queens Stadium Comes With Jab at Red Bulls

The MLS club progresses on developing its new stadium in Queens, N.Y.