Tampa Bay Rays finalizing new ballpark in St. Petersburg as part of a larger urban project
The playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays put the finishing touches on plans for a new 30,000-seat ballpark in St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays put the finishing touches Tuesday on plans for a new 30,000-seat ballpark in St. Petersburg as part of a $6.5 billion development project that includes affordable housing, retail, bars and restaurants and a Black history museum.
The site is on the same 86-acre (34-hectare) tract of downtown land where Tropicana Field now sits. That domed, oddly-tilted ballpark would be demolished once the new one is built, in time for opening day 2028, Rays co-president Brian Auld said in an interview.
The plan, which still has some political hurdles to clear on funding and government approvals, would keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the foreseeable future despite constant talk of the team moving across the bay to Tampa and possibly to Nashville, Tennessee. A plan to plan to split home games with Montreal was rejected by Major League Baseball.
“We're going to be here for a very long time,” Auld said. “We're all really thrilled that for the first time since we started this we have a clear path to make sure the Rays stay in Tampa Bay for generations to come.”
The announcement for the new ballpark and surrounding project came Tuesday at an event inside Tropicana Field.
“I am so excited that the Rays are here to stay. Finally!” said Janet Long, chair of the Pinellas County Commission, who noted this will be the largest economic development project in county history. “This project is a home run and means so much more to us than sports.”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has said expansion to 32 teams could be considered after ballpark deals are in place for the Rays and
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