The Tampa Bay Rays have until Dec. 1 to decide whether to commit to the construction of a $1.3 billion stadium, a proposal originally voted on in July. Pinellas County Court Commission Chairperson Kathleen Peters issued a letter on Monday to Rays presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman, requesting their decision by the approaching deadline.
Last week, Auld and Silverman informed the County Commission in a letter that the team was unlikely to agree to the stadium deal, instead expressing a desire to “work on a new solution” for the area. They also stated that a new stadium would not be ready in time for the 2028 season, and that opening the stadium in 2029 would be too costly. The Rays claimed to have already invested over $50 million in the project but said the county had “suspended work on the entire project.”
The Rays noted in their Nov. 19 letter that the county’s failure to finalize bonds last month had eliminated the possibility of completing the stadium by 2028, with a 2029 timeline leading to “significantly higher costs” that the team could not absorb.
In response, Peters criticized the Rays’ claims, calling the assertion that a 2029 completion would be too expensive a “fallacious statement.” She also emphasized that the Rays would be responsible for any additional costs associated with the project and pointed out that the county’s bond deadline could be extended until March 31, 2025.
Despite these disagreements, the Pinellas County Commission voted 6-1 on Nov. 19 to delay a final decision on bond approval until Dec. 17.
If the Rays fail to provide an answer by the Dec. 1 deadline, Peters stated she would consult with Assistant County Attorney Don Crowell and County Administrator Barry Burton about how to proceed.
In the meantime, the Rays will not play their home games at Tropicana Field next season, as the stadium suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Milton in October. Instead, the team will host games at Tampa’s George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.
While the future of the Rays in the Tampa Bay area remains uncertain, Peters reiterated that the city and county are committed to reaching a deal with the team.
“Pinellas County has operated in good faith, working toward the stadium deal while balancing the needs of our community after back-to-back hurricanes,” Peters wrote. “If the Rays want out of this agreement, it is your right to terminate the contract. Clear communication about your intentions will be critical to the next steps in this partnership.”
