The Tampa Bay Rays are optimistic about the odds of the Pinellas County Commission re-approving a bond agreement to provide a new stadium to host their MLB franchise. An initial agreement was paused after damage from two hurricanes forced the Rays to relocate to George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa (Hillsborough County) as a temporary home field.
An article in the Tampa Bay Business Journal (TBJ) reported that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred visited Kathleen Peters, chairwoman of the county commission this week to discuss the new $1.3 billion stadium. Manfred also met with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, though it’s unclear what they discussed. The Rays then released a statement on Dec. 10 expressing confidence that the county will approve the bond agreement.
Following devastating winds that tore the roof off the dome at Tropicana Field, the Rays were forced to delay their projected opening date at the new stadium from 2027 to at least 2029.
“We anticipate that the Pinellas County Commission will authorize the bonds at their next meeting,” Rays Co-President Matt Silverman said through a spokesperson. “As we stated in our letter three weeks ago, we remain ready to work with all key stakeholders to fill the funding gap their delay has created.”
