The Historic Gas Plant District, which will include the$ 1.3 billion domed stadium home of the Tampa Bay Rays, is still a project that Pinellas County Commissioners are committed to developing, but the project is still far from finished.
After representatives voted 5-2 to review$ 312.5 million in bonds toward the creating of a 30, 000-seat, fixed-roof place, the group released a statement suggesting projected charge overruns made the deal impossible as already constructed.
In a swing vote, commissioner Chris Latvala urged Rays owner Stuart Sternberg to promote the club, and just voted yes because he feared a no vote would allow Sternberg to install a buy option for 65 acres of open land around the suggested stadium without creating a ballpark. He also cited a dialogue with MLB director Rob Manfred in a scathing statement about the exchanges between the province and the group.

” I do certainly respect the owner of the Rays, I trust Albert”, said Latvala in the speech. The Rays firm has intentionally attempted to destroy the very agreement that they made, according to” MLB is aware of several situations where the organization has attempted to destroy the very offer that they agreed to.”
The Rays issued a statement blaming the state for possibly delaying design for another year and therefore creating cost overruns as a representation of the tension between both edges. Tuesday’s state vote came after two previous disruptions.
” As we have made clear, the County’s pause has caused the ballpark’s conclusion to slip into 2029″, said the group in a statement. ” As a result, the cost of the project has increased drastically, and we cannot process this increase only. When the County and City decide to cooperate, we are always prepared to bridge this cash gap.
The Rays were forced out of their current home for the 2025 year by Hurricane Milton, which caused the Rays to lose their roof, which also contributed to the confusion surrounding programs for their subsequent digs.
The ties that were approved will be used for storms recovery, not to be used for tourism income. The ties themselves didn’t be issued until the Rays adhere to pre-construction standards and spend their money on building first. The Rays, who rank 28th in Sportico’s MLB company estimates at$ 1.33 billion, are apparently contributing$ 700 million toward building and are slated to include cost overruns.
The past team of directors voted 5-2 to review the ideas on July 30 before the hurricane forced authorities to return to the election process and an election took place. Additionally, a distinct acceptance of area redevelopment funds was passed. Earlier that month, St. Petersburg’s city council approved$ 287.5 million toward facility construction and infrastructure, with$ 130 million earmarked for building roads and sewers.

Two fresh Republican directors were elected as a result of the election in November. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Vince Nowicki has recently been criticized as “vehemently against” the agreement, while Chris Scherer requested that the team provide evidence that it will give for the club’s design. In the most recent score, Both Nowicki and Scherer voted against the securities being approved.
Only months after Tropicana Field’s contract is set to expire, the Gas Plant facility was originally scheduled to open in period for the 2028 season.
The Tampa Bay Times reported recently that the team and representatives from the Tampa Sports Authority, a capital company, met to discuss building a new venue in the late 2023 season, distinct from the formally discussed job. The Rays are currently based in St. Petersburg. The agency manages Raymond James Stadium ( home of the NFL’s Buccaneers ) and three of Tampa’s public golf courses, and acts as the landlord for both Steinbrenner Field and Amalie Arena, home of the NHL’s Lightning.
Following a previous attempt to bring the Rays into Tampa proper, the reported meeting came. The Rays announced in July 2018 that they would construct a new venue in Ybor City’s Tampa district with goals to open by 2023. However, those plans were scuttled a few months later.
The largely predominantly Black neighborhood that was displaced by the construction of Tropicana Field and a nearby interstate highway is named the Historic Gas Plant District, which serves as the centerpiece of the new stadium.
Officials in St. Petersburg informed the Rays that repairs to Tropicana Field would cost$ 55.7 million. Those repairs, which would include replacing the translucent fiberglass roof, wouldn’t be completed before the 2026 season, potentially displacing the team beyond next season.
The Rays will play their 2025 schedule at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees and the AL champion’s Class-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons.