The deal to build a new stadium in St. Petersburg for the Tampa Bay Rays has been dead for some time, but now it's official.
The city council on Thursday voted to terminate its agreement to redevelop the Tropicana Field site, with a new $1.3 billion ballpark as the centerpiece. That came after the team announced in March it was backing out of the deal.
During the meeting, council member Brandi Gabbard alluded to the sometimes-contentious negotiations with the team.
“We know who we're dealing with. We know that promises were made that were not kept along the way, and that's why we're here doing this now,” she said before the unanimous vote.
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Council member Richie Floyd — who had consistently opposed the plan — said everything that happened justified his opposition all along.
"What a gift that we were able to get to a point where the termination has a minimal impact on our city. Some of us found out who we were dealing with before we got too far down the line," he said.
Floyd said the city could still go ahead with redevelopment of what is known as the Historic Gas Plant District without having to deal with the team's ownership.
"We have an opportunity now that we wouldn't have had if we were to go forward with this one, in which we have a lot more finances to move forward with the things that we need in the city," he said, "the things that we're going to get in this deal that were positive, we can still do, and maybe even more of."
The city is repairing Tropicana Field, the Rays' longtime home, after Hurricane Milton shredded the ballpark's Teflon dome. Officials hope to have the Trop ready by the start of the 2026 baseball season in March or April. The Rays are obligated to play in St. Petersburg through 2028, although an anticipated team sale could extend that deadline.
Council members agreed to spend a maximum of $5.2 million to repair 150 light fixtures on the stadium's interior catwalks, electrical systems and bullpen lighting. A blue netting is being placed on the roof's skeleton in preparation for installing new fabric in August.
Mayor Ken Welch said in a prepared statement that the push will continue to redevelop the 86-acre site, with plans that include affordable housing, office and retail space, an African American museum and possibly a convention center.
Welch added that the Rays' decision was "terribly disappointing," but the mission was to adapt and make progress for the city. He said that part of the mission was accomplished through the city council's vote.
"At this moment, the most important step for our City is coming to closure on this agreement so that we can begin to move forward on developing portions of the Historic Gas Plant District," Welch said in part. "Our initial focus will be on housing, our commitment to the Woodson museum, and the advancement of a workforce development ecosystem. We are also working with the County on a feasibility study for a right-sized convention center on a portion of the Historic Gas Plant property."
Welch added that a crucial element is that the development rights of the area were previously held by the Rays since 1995. It is now in the city's hands.
"This puts us in the strongest position to assure that the future development of the Historic Gas Plant District meets the needs of St. Petersburg and honors the promises of equitable development," Welch said. "Today is another step toward that goal and we look forward to City Council’s continued partnership in this journey.”
