Rays may be considering relocation as 2028 stadium deal suddenly in jeopardy

It’s been a pretty bad season for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The team missed the play-offs for the first time since 2019; then his home stadium was devastated by a hurricane, after which he learned he would have to play in a minor league ballpark for at least one season.

And now the Rays’ long-term future in Tampa Bay/St. The St. Petersburg metropolitan area is once again in doubt.

Accordingly A report by John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times“Bond vote delays stalled groundbreaking plans and jeopardized the future of baseball in Tampa Bay.”

After years of speculation that the team would move elsewhere, including a failed bid to play half of each season in Montreal, Rays fans moved to St. Louis this past summer. Factory Zone” was signed.

However, the deal wasn’t completely done, as commissioners in Pinellas County (where both Tropicana Field, the team’s current home, and the new stadium will be located) had to vote on approving bonds to pay for the replacement ballpark.

In October, both the city and county commissions voted to postpone meetings on whether to approve the consolidation until Nov. 19.

After county commissioners voted to postpone the initial bond vote, Rays owner Stu Sternberg told the Times: “This action sent a clear message that we have lost the county as a collective… The future of baseball in Tampa Bay is less uncertain from now on has become.” vote.”

Accordingly A report by Erik Waxler of WFTS-TV in Tampa BaySome civic leaders are “not happy with the deal” after last week’s announcement that the Rays will play the 2026 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

This stadium is located in neighboring Hillsborough County. Some civic officials said the team was in St. He is upset that St. Petersburg is moving there instead of playing at the minor league stadium in Pinellas County.

St. Petersburg city leaders have not yet decided whether they will approve a reported $55.7 million to repair Tropicana Field so the Rays can play there until the new ballpark is ready.

Further compounding the dilemma, the Times reported that bond vote delays have jeopardized plans to begin construction in January, meaning a new ballpark might not open until 2029.

Romano estimated that could leave the Rays responsible for more than $100 million in additional expenses at a time when team revenues could be down due to the team playing in a smaller-capacity stadium.

More MLB: $136 million free agent to join Angels in move to Los Angeles