Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill owner Mark Ferguson has been heavily active in the St. Petersburg community since he opened the establishment in 1992.
Located in the former Gas Plant District near Tropicana Field, Ferg’s has become a hub for Tampa Bay Rays fans. In August 2025, it was ranked as the “#1 local sports bar” in America by USA Today.
At a Florida Economic Club meeting Wednesday evening, Ferguson discussed the Rays’ future in St. Petersburg amidst negotiations to build a new stadium in Tampa.
The Florida Economic Club, founded in 2009, focuses on fostering interaction between community professionals in different Florida cities, according to the organization’s website.
“I don’t know why you would want to be over in Tampa and fight with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Lightning over sponsorships,” Ferguson said at the gathering. “It’s easy to have your own background and city.”
The Tampa Bay Rays’ owners want a public financing agreement for a Tampa stadium by June 1, as they hope to open the proposed facility by 2029. Hillsborough County officials have said that this deadline cannot be met.
Ferguson added that he is optimistic about the team staying in the city.
Tropicana Field, once known as the Florida Suncoast Dome, was already open by the time the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were established in 1998. It first welcomed guests in 1990. In fact, the goal was to attract a major league team. Before becoming the home of the Rays, the facility hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning.
After Hurricane Milton destroyed Tropicana Field’s roof in 2024, the City of St. Petersburg was obligated to repair the stadium to major league specifications. The cost was over $55 million.
During the 2025 season, the Tampa Bay Rays played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training home in Tampa. This, Ferguson and other business leaders agreed, had a profound financial impact on St. Petersburg companies and dining establishments.
“The energy level was terrible,” he said. “When you have baseball, you get new people coming in all the time and they see the place and their surroundings and they go ‘it’s really nice here. I’ll think about moving here.’’”
The Tampa stadium deal, if approved, would cost more than $2 billion. Ferguson believes it would be more economical to continue to repair Tropicana Field.
To exemplify, he discussed the extensive renovations at the Toronto Blue Jays’ stadium, Rogers Centre in Canada. The facility, which opened in 1989, was modernized for a new generation of fans.
Ferguson argued that if the Rays owners, City and Pinellas County invest more capital in Tropicana Field, they can save a significant sum of money. The upper deck could be better utilized, he added.
“You don’t need a new stadium,” Ferguson said. “You need to redo that one, which they’re already doing. So, it’s common sense.”
The Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment project was also discussed. He believes that it’s important to consider the Rays in the decision making process.
Currently, the City is exploring four proposals from the Pinellas County Housing Authority, Foundation Vision Partners, The Burg Bid and ARK–Ellison–Horus. The Rays organization, Ferguson added, could partner with a proposal developer to build an “entertainment complex” in the future.
The St. Petersburg community needs to continue to support the Rays. “If you put a good product on the field and you make it better, you’ll get better attendance,” he said. “They’re playing very well right now. They have been playing very well for 15 years.”
Business leaders can do their part. Ferguson recommended that they purchase season tickets every year to give to employees, clients or even charities. This can boost attendance and fandom.
“Build your business around giving away tickets,” he added. “If we get more people going to the games, they will say ‘we need to be here.’”
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com
