The Tampa Bay Rays have until Sunday to decide whether to commit to a $1.3 billion stadium project, a plan initially voted on in July. Kathleen Peters, Chair of the Pinellas County Commission, sent a letter on November 25 to Rays' executives Brian Auld and Matt Silverman, urging a decision.

Team management vs. County Commission

Last week, Auld and Silverman wrote to the County Commission suggesting that the team might not agree to proceed with the new stadium deal and is "ready to work on a new solution" in the area. They claimed the stadium would not be completed in time for the 2028 season, and opening it a year later would be too costly. They also noted that the team has already spent over $50 million on the project, but the county allegedly “halted work on the entire endeavor.”

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Peters responded in a letter to Auld and Silverman, calling the Rays’ assertion that completing the stadium by 2029 would be prohibitively expensive "a misstatement". She added that the Rays are responsible for covering any additional costs arising from delays. She also dismissed the claim that completing the stadium by 2028 is unrealistic, emphasizing that the county has until March 31, 2025, to issue bonds for the project. However, the bonds remain on hold for now. On November 19, the Pinellas County Commission voted 6-1 to postpone the final decision on bond approval until December 17.

Uncertain future: What’s next for Tampa Bay Rays?

If the Rays do not respond by the December 1 deadline, Peters told the Tampa Bay Times that she would discuss the next steps with Deputy County Attorney Don Crowell and County Administrator Barry Burton. Regardless of this decision, the Rays will not play their home games at their current stadium in St. Petersburg next season. Tropicana Field sustained significant damage during Hurricane Milton in early October. As a result, the team will temporarily relocate to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. While it remains uncertain if the Rays will stay in the Tampa Bay area long-term, Peters emphasized that the city and county remain committed to finalizing an agreement with the team.

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The uncertainty surrounding the new stadium and the complications regarding Tropicana Field have fueled speculation in U.S. media about the Rays' future. According to Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue, the most likely scenario involves team owner Stuart Sternberg selling the franchise to a group planning to relocate the team.

It seems inevitable that the Rays will need a new home by 2026. Steinbrenner Field, while a temporary solution, is not suitable for long-term use in Major League Baseball. Possible relocation cities include Nashville or even Montreal, according to Yellon. One thing appears certain: 2025 will likely be the Rays' final year in the Tampa Bay area unless "a miracle happens," Yellon concludes.

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