The Tampa Bay Rays have formally informed the city of St. Petersburg that they are backing a $55.7-million plan for Tropicana Field repairs, after massive damage caused by Hurricane Milton, in time for the 2026 MLB season. (more…)
Tag Archives | tropicana field
Tampa Bay Rays ballpark deals collapse, raising issues for 2026
Imagine owning a sports franchise worth $1.25 billion. You’ve worked for years on a new ballpark plan, finally proposing redevelopment everyone likes. One hurricane and one election later, and suddenly your current home is trashed and the future home is in doubt. Welcome to the joys of owning the Tampa Bay Rays. (more…)
Hurricane not only tears off Trop roof, but tears up Tampa Bays Rays ballpark planning
Hurricane Milton not only tore the roof off Tropicana Field: It upended all planning for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, potentially killing a St. Pete facility, and forcing the team to play the 2025 season at the minor-league Steinbrenner Field. (more…)
Tropicana Field roof shredded by Hurricane Milton; Rays face plenty of ballpark decisions
With most of the Tropicana Field roof shredded by Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Bay Rays and Major League Baseball must address the team’s short-term and long-term needs for home play just five months before the 2025 regular season starts. (more…)
Baseball world preps for Hurricane Milton
With Hurricane Milton bearing down on Florida, the baseball world is sending home players and staffers and hunkering down for one of the most severe storms to ever slam the state. (more…)
Prepping for 2024: American League East ballparks
As we approach the 2024 MLB season, we’re taking a different approach to our ballpark coverage. We begin with American League East ballparks, as Natty Boh returns to Oriole Park, Fenway Park adds Irish nachos, the Yankees add a slew of offerings from celebrity chefs, and Tropicana Field sees a revamped turf field. (more…)
Rays unveil St. Petersburg ballpark plan, ask for swift consideration from the city
The Tampa Bay Rays unveiled a financing plan for a new St. Petersburg ballpark to replace Tropicana Field, with the facility serving as the centerpiece of a $6-billion development. (more…)
New Rays ballpark: $1.3B, $600 million public contribution
The Tampa Bay Rays and developer Hines announced a deal with the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County for a 86-acre redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant site, complete with a $1.3-billion new Rays ballpark that commits the team to the market for 30 years. (more…)
Rays ballpark talks heating up across Tampa Bay
New Tampa Bay Rays ballpark talks with both Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg appear to be intensifying, with both sides apparently buying into the concepts floated by the MLB team. (more…)
In surprise, Tampa Bay Rays attendance up 28 percent this year
We’re not entirely sure if there are deeper meanings here, but so far this year the Tampa Bay Rays are the surprise team in baseball, posting the best record on the field and enjoying a 28 percent boost at the box office. (more…)
Four plans for Tropicana Field redevelopment, including Rays pitch, received by St. Petersburg
After revising RFP requirements for Tropicana Field redevelopment in August, the city of St. Petersburg received four proposals from developers, including a pitch from the Tampa Bay Rays and developer Hines. (more…)
Tropicana Field site development halted; new bidding to include Rays ballpark
A bidding process to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site has been scrapped by St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, with the intention of reopening the bidding to include a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark. (more…)
Rays to push Montreal plans during playoffs
If you’ve been reading our stories on the Tampa Bay Rays ballpark drama, you’ve seen we’ve been noting how the stars are aligning for a new-facility push. And so it begins during the 2021 MLB playoffs. (more…)