The Tampa Bay Rays will not be playing at Tropicana Field for the 2025 season. Instead, they will play home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.
With this temporary move, the Rays’ long-term future remains uncertain. Plans for a new ballpark had been in the works, but those plans may now be in jeopardy.
Rays Ownership Announces Shocking News on New Stadium
The Rays knew they needed to build a new stadium after Tropicana Field sustained damage. However, on Thursday, Tampa Bay Times reporter Colleen Wright reported that the Rays will not meet the March 31 deadline to move forward with a stadium deal.
Rays owner Stuart Sternberg called St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch to inform him of the decision, which could dismantle the proposed agreement to build a $1.3 billion stadium in the Historic Gas Plant District. The deal had already received approval from the St. Petersburg City Council and the Pinellas County Commission.
Sternberg released a statement explaining the decision:
“After careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at this moment. A series of events beginning in October that no one could have anticipated led to this difficult decision.”
In gratitude for the continued support from our fans and community. pic.twitter.com/vVGHn6nrAA
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 13, 2025
Backlash From Rays Fans
Following the announcement, many Rays fans expressed their frustration. One fan wrote, “What a bunch of frauds! Played the media and fans for years and all for this. MUST SELL NOW. Like by yesterday.”
Another fan called for a boycott of the team, saying, “Might sound like an old head, but I’m ready to boycott the Tampa Bay Rays as long as Stu Sternberg is our owner. We all should stop buying Rays gear from the Rays themselves and MLB Shop and stop buying Rays tickets. This guy doesn’t get another cent from us.”
Might sound like an old head, but I’m ready to boycott the Tampa Bay Rays as long as Stu Stenberg is our owner. We all should stop buying rays gear from the rays themselves and MLB shop, and stop buying rays tickets, if I got to decide this guy doesn’t get another cent from us.
— Trevor (@b2bChamps27) March 13, 2025
One fan speculated that MLB will not allow the team to leave Florida, stating, “MLB is not going to let them move out of Florida. So either they force a sale to someone who goes back to that St. Pete deal, they get a deal in Ybor City, or they force a sale to someone who moves them to Orlando.”
With the stadium deal falling through, the future of the Rays remains uncertain. The franchise and its ownership will face increased scrutiny as they determine their next steps. For now, Tampa Bay fans are left with more questions than answers, and the stadium saga will be a major storyline heading into the 2025 MLB season.