ST. PETE, Fla., (WFLA) – Thursday afternoon, St. Pete City Council will vote to terminate the new stadium deal for the Rays.
The council is anticipated to also approve an extra $5 million allocation for repairs at Tropicana Field, marking the end of what could have been one of the most significant developments in the city’s history.
As repairs on the Trop are set to begin, council members are scheduled to vote on Thursday to officially end the agreement to construct a new stadium for the Rays.
“It is the end of a chapter, but it certainly is not the end of the story,” said Mayor Ken Welch.
Beyond damaging the Tropicana Field, Hurricane Milton also contributed to the collapse of the $1.3 billion agreement intended to construct a new stadium and redevelop the surrounding Gas Plant District.
Earlier in the year, St. Pete’s mayor said the team’s decision to abandon the plans was a major disappointment.
“I have no interest in working with this ownership group. They have a set of agreements they signed July 31st or August 1st of last year, that we all agreed to, why would I go back to the same group?” Welch said.
As council members vote to officially terminate the new stadium deal, they will turn their attention towards salvaging the Rays’ existing home.
Damage assessments put the total cost to repair hurricane damage to the Trop at more than $50 million, with the team contractually obligated to play in the stadium through 2028.
City leaders say they’re hopeful all of the repairs at the Trop will be complete in time for the Rays to return to St. Pete for the start of the 2026 season.
