The Rays’ relationship with the city of St. Petersburg has seemed strained as the team searches for a new place to play.
But in 2028, their contract with St. Pete is up, meaning they might be looking for a new city to call home.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has said he wants to keep the team in the Tampa Bay area, but a group in central Florida is also vying for its own professional baseball team.
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With the Orlando Dreamers organization saying they have nearly $2 billion committed to an Orlando stadium and team, the Rays’ future is unclear.
Rays’ owner Stu Sternberg has been quiet about the team’s situation.
But at a Tampa Bay Chamber event Friday morning, Castor shared her opinion.
“MLB doesn’t want the Rays to leave Tampa Bay,” Castor said. “I think the future of the team, there may be new owners.”
Castor shared her thoughts relatively unprompted during the mayor’s annual Face the Chamber event.
While the Rays were briefly mentioned, Castor took a moment at the end of the question-and-answer session to comment.
She said the city needs to be prepared to answer a call from the Rays if it comes.
The Rays had bailed on plans for a new stadium in St. Petersburg in March.
Earlier attempts for a deal for a stadium near Ybor in 2018 and 2022 were also unsuccessful.
The team is playing this season at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field as repairs are done to Tropicana Field following Hurricane Milton.
Lily Belcher is a news intern for WUSF, the NPR station for the greater Tampa Bay area.
S. Rose Smith-Hayes
June 3, 2025at8:12 pm
The Rays Management Team are a great group of people. No one seems to know why the deal tanked or no one is talking about it.
John
June 3, 2025at5:12 pm
Why not combine a new stadium for both the Bucs and Rays? Make it the best stadium in America
steve terpack jr.
June 3, 2025at9:23 am
Its very simply put the ballpark next to Raymond James stadium, put it on the corner where the Yankees have the facilty on Columbus Dr. and Himes and move that facilty across the street where there ballpark is. You have the parking and the restaurants and hotels on dale mabry.
Rob
June 3, 2025at3:09 am
This is not on the Rays. This is on an incompetent mayor in St. Petersburgh who is in way over his head. He has lost more revenue for St. Pete than all other mayors before him combined. Once again, there was a good deal for all on the table, But Mayor Ken Welch out kicked his coverage in the negotiation department.
Chris
June 2, 2025at3:21 pm
I for one welcome the City of Tampa funding a stadium in Hillsborough County with their tax dollars and municipal bonds.