The Tampa Bay Rays have withdrawn from a $1.3 billion ballpark project due to a series of events in October, including severe damage to the existing Tropicana Field and financing delays. As a result, the team will not move forward with the new stadium and development project at this time. The Rays will play their home games at the New York Yankees’ spring training home this season while repairs are made to the Trop, with the goal of having it ready for the 2026 season. The team’s future in the Tampa Bay area beyond their current contract with the city of St. Petersburg remains uncertain.
The proposed 30,000-seat stadium was part of a larger $6.5 billion redevelopment project called the Historic Gas Plant District, which aimed to revitalize a predominantly Black neighborhood that was displaced by the construction of the Trop and a highway spur. The project included plans for a Black history museum, affordable housing, entertainment venues, and office and retail space, with the promise of creating thousands of jobs. With the Rays’ decision to withdraw from the project, the fate of the broader redevelopment initiative is now in limbo. Despite this setback, the City of St. Petersburg is moving forward with plans to restore Tropicana Field for the 2026 season.
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