Tampa Bay Rays Abandon New Stadium Plans After Hurricane Damage and Delays

The team will focus on repairing Tropicana Field for 2026 while uncertainty looms over their long-term future in the Tampa Bay area.

The Tampa Bay Rays have canceled their $1.3 billion stadium project in St. Petersburg, citing unexpected challenges from Hurricane Milton and related delays.
Tropicana Field, the team's current home, suffered severe roof damage during the hurricane, leaving it unplayable for the 2025 season.
The Rays will play the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees' spring training facility, while Tropicana Field undergoes repairs.
City officials plan to restore Tropicana Field by 2026, but the team's lease at the stadium expires in 2027, raising questions about their long-term location.
The now-scrapped stadium was part of a larger $6.5 billion redevelopment plan for the Historic Gas Plant District, which is also left in limbo following the decision.