Tampa Bay Rays Cancel Plans for $1.3 Billion St. Petersburg Stadium

The decision follows hurricane damage, financial delays, and uncertainty over the team's long-term future in the region.

The Tampa Bay Rays announced they will not proceed with their planned $1.3 billion stadium and development project in St. Petersburg, citing challenges from hurricane damage and financing delays.
Tropicana Field, heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton in October 2024, is undergoing repairs and is expected to reopen for the 2026 season, with the Rays playing at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa for the 2025 season.
The canceled stadium was part of a broader $6.5 billion redevelopment project for the Historic Gas Plant District, which now faces uncertainty without the ballpark as its anchor.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch expressed disappointment in the Rays' ownership but left open the possibility of collaboration with new ownership committed to the city's priorities.
Major League Baseball reiterated its commitment to keeping the Rays in the Tampa Bay area, though speculation about potential relocation or ownership changes persists.