The Tampa Bay Rays have introduced they’re withdrawing from the redevelopment venture for the Historic Gasoline Plant District, which might have included a brand new baseball stadium in downtown St. Petersburg.
The Rays had been going through a March 31 deadline to offer proof that they had met the necessities to maneuver ahead with the brand new stadium development, which was one among 12 contracts signed with town of St. Petersburg as a part of the general redevelopment of Tropicana Discipline’s 80+ acre web site.
We had been in a position to affirm with the staff this morning that the Rays have withdrawn not solely from the stadium venture, however your entire redevelopment.
As a part of the announcement, Rays proprietor Stuart Sternberg affirmed the Rays intend to return to taking part in video games at Tropicana Discipline for the 2026 season, which suggests consideration will now return to the St. Petersburg Metropolis Council, who should resolve whether or not it’s higher to finish repairs of Tropicana Discipline or to purchase out the Rays from their contract limiting them to the stadium from 2026-2028.
If town chooses to maneuver ahead with repairs, there may be a variety of prices that may should be deliberated. Is town answerable for repairing each side of the stadium, together with fan facilities? Or is town’s accountability restricted to the sector itself being playable? Moreover, what occurs if the stadium will not be prepared for Opening Day 2026?
We may have extra questions than solutions because the Stadium Saga continues.
