UPDATE: The Tampa Bay Rays are poised to restart their search for a new ballpark site in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area following the team’s impending sale. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed this urgent development during a recent event, setting the stage for significant changes in the franchise’s future.
Current owner Stu Sternberg has been negotiating the sale of the team to a group led by Patrick Zalupski. Manfred emphasized that with new ownership, the Rays will have a “clean slate” to determine the best location for a new stadium, crucial for the team’s long-term success.
The Rays have struggled to finalize ballpark deals in recent years, with multiple proposals falling through. “With new ownership, they’re going to have to build and make relationships throughout the region,” Manfred stated, highlighting the importance of community connections in this process.
Since their inception in 1998, the Rays have called Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg home, but they have ranked among the lowest-drawing teams in Major League Baseball. Currently, they are playing their home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa while repairs are made to the Trop, which suffered damage from Hurricane Milton last October.
Manfred pointed out the promising developments in Tampa, stating, “The potential for the sale to a group that has huge, deep roots in Tampa would be a definite positive development.” Under Sternberg’s leadership, the team attempted to move forward with ballpark plans at various sites, including Al Lang Stadium in 2007 and Ybor City in 2018, but those proposals ultimately stalled.
The latest plan, a $1.3 billion project adjacent to the Trop, was withdrawn earlier this year due to the hurricane’s impact and subsequent delays. With the impending ownership change, the prospects for a new stadium are now back on the table, providing hope for fans and stakeholders alike.
Manfred reiterated that he believes Florida is the right place for the team, citing ample opportunities in the Tampa Bay region. “I think there are opportunities in the Tampa Bay region that can be exploited to get a new stadium and keep the team there,” he asserted, emphasizing the need for new ownership to explore all options available.
Looking ahead, the Rays are expected to return to Tropicana Field next year, despite ongoing challenges, including numerous rain delays at Steinbrenner Field this season. Manfred described playing at the Trop as “a great solution for 2026 compared to playing in a minor league ballpark with no roof in the Tampa climate.”
In addition to the ballpark developments, Manfred hinted at possible MLB expansion from 30 to 32 teams, contingent on the Rays and Oakland Athletics securing new ballparks. Construction is already underway for the A’s new stadium in Las Vegas, scheduled to open in 2028.
As discussions about expansion and potential realignment gain momentum, Manfred noted a shift in owner attitudes towards these topics since he became commissioner in 2015. “Today when you talk about a topic like realignment, owners say, ‘OK, explain to me how you think it’s going to drive my business,'” he remarked, illustrating a more business-oriented mindset among team owners.
This developing situation is crucial for Tampa Bay sports fans, as the future of the Rays remains uncertain but full of possibilities. Keep an eye on this story as more updates unfold regarding the team’s sale and potential new stadium plans.
