Huge Development in Rays' Stadium Saga Looms Thursday: Report

The Tampa Bay Rays will learn the fate of their proposed stadium in St. Petersburg when the City Council meets on Thursday, according to a new report.

Colleen Wright of the Tampa Bay Times reported Wednesday that the council is scheduled to vote on whether or not to approve bonds to finance the city's contribution toward a new $1.3 billion stadium and Historic Gas Plant District — despite the team saying the project as proposed is no longer viable.

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According to Wright, Thursday is the first city council meeting since it voted to delay the bond issue.

The Rays were scheduled to move into their new home park in time for the 2028 Major League Baseball season, but delays have put the park project in jeopardy, according to the team. The City Council can still vote to approve the funds, but the Rays have accused Pinellas County of delaying their end of the bond approval needed to complete the project on time.

A drone image shows the dome of Tropicana Field which has been torn open due to Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024. At least four people were confirmed killed as a... Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP

"As we have informed the county administrator and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, the county's failure to finalize the bonds last month ended the ability for a 2028 delivery of the ballpark," the Rays said in a letter to the county in November.

Without a new stadium to call home, the Rays' future in the Tampa Bay region is in jeopardy.

More to come on this story from Newsweek Sports.