The Tampa Bay Rays will not move forward on construction of a new ballpark in St. Petersburg, Fla., following a months-long saga regarding public funding for the venue.
“After careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at this moment,” Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement posted on social media. “A series of events beginning in October that no one could have anticipated led to this difficult decision.”
Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field on Oct. 10, which left the Rays without a home stadium. The Rays hope to return to Tropicana Field in 2026 after playing the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field, which is the spring training home of the New York Yankees.