Rays Reach Agreement to Stay in St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays reached an agreement with the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County to build a $1.3 billion ballpark as part of the redevelopment of the site where Tropicana Field now sits, an 86-acre plot known as the Historic Gas Plant District.

Club, city, and county officials made the announcement at Tropicana Field on Tuesday morning. A public approval process must still be completed, including votes from the St. Petersburg City Council and Pinellas County Commission.

The club's proposal features a 30,000-seat ballpark (expandable to 35,000 for special events) with three seating tiers. The stadium would still have a fixed roof and artificial turf. However, the design includes walls and windows that can be opened on comfortable days or closed to combat heat, rain, and humidity.

The Rays would pay more than half of the estimated cost, with the city and county covering approximately $300 million each. The Rays would be responsible for any additions or overruns.

St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said the city will pay its $300 million through bonds and that none of it would come from property taxes, new taxes, or increases in current taxes. The county is expected to pay its share mostly from its tourism tax.

The ballpark is just one element of the mixed-use district redevelopment plan, which will also include:

• 4,800 residential units
• 1,200 affordable/workforce residential units (on and off-site)
• 600 senior living units
• 1,400,000 square feet of office, medical, and commercial space
• 750,000 square feet of retail
• 750 hotel rooms
• 100,000 square feet of entertainment space, including a concert venue to seat up to 4,000
• 50,000 square feet of civic space, namely a new home for the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum
• 90,000 - 100,000 square feet of conference, ballroom, and meeting space
• 14 acres of public open space
• 14,000 parking spaces

If finalized, the deal would mark the end of the club's nearly two-decade search for a permanent home. Plans to build on the site of Al Lang Stadium, and move to a site near Port of Tampa or Ybor City fell through when the club failed to reach agreements with the respective municipalities. Another plan to do a split season in Montreal failed to get approval from the MLB.

It is far from certain, however, that a new ballpark will cure the club's woeful attendance record. Despite being one of baseball's most successful teams, the Rays have regularly languished near the very bottom of league attendance numbers. This season, the club is averaging less than 18,000 fans per game (26th in the MLB), despite having the fourth-best record in baseball.

There has been much debate as to why the Rays have struggled to draw, despite enjoying excellent television ratings and healthy merchandise sales. Tropicana Field is certainly a factor, with its low roof, concrete, and warehouse-like aesthetic that does not invoke the traditional feel of most other parks. Past plans have included the possibility of a retractable roof and whether creating some potential fresh air openings and pathways for sunshine will provide adequately improved ambiance remains to be seen.

Another issue is population density and traffic. The population in the immediate area of Tropicana is not nearly as dense as other MLB stadiums, mostly because it is surrounded by so much water. That water also makes for limited transportation options from the broader geographical area, making it very difficult to travel during rush hour from places like Tampa, Brandon, Lakeland, or Manatee County to make weekday games.

The Rays have played at the site since their inaugural season in 1998, when they were known as the Devil Rays. The team will continue to play at Tropicana Field until the end of its current lease in 2027. The club would then plan to move into the new stadium in 2028—its 30th anniversary season.