Tampa Bay Rays Face Uncertain Future as Stadium Deadlines and Costs Mount

Hurricane Milton's destruction of Tropicana Field and delays in new stadium funding leave the Rays without a long-term home plan.

Hurricane Milton severely damaged Tropicana Field in October 2024, leaving the Tampa Bay Rays without a permanent home for the 2025 season.
The Rays will play their 2025 home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, a temporary solution that has sparked frustration among local officials due to lost tax revenue.
Plans for a $1.3 billion stadium in St. Petersburg have been delayed to 2029, with the Rays citing $150 million in additional costs they cannot cover as a major hurdle.
The team faces a March 31 deadline to commit to the St. Petersburg stadium project, but uncertainties over funding and repair timelines for Tropicana Field complicate the decision.
Speculation about owner Stuart Sternberg selling the team has grown, but he has denied any current plans to sell despite mounting public and political pressure.