The damage Hurricane Milton did to Tropicana Field was nothing short of awful, with an estimated repair cost of $23.6 million for the roof alone.
It was nothing compared to the wreck Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott inflicted on the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
Wow: Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott who's still supportive of the stadium deal and would vote for the bonds--is not mincing his words about the Rays and their owner Stu Sternberg for how they've handled the past few weeks. pic.twitter.com/pLl1QOBjLj
— Aaron Parseghian WTSP (@AaronParseghian) November 20, 2024"I think the Rays' strategy sucks, to be honest with you," Scott said, captured in a video posted on Twitter/X by Aaron Parseghian of WTSP. "I think it has for quite some time. They are horrible communicators and I think they're the most politically tone-deaf organization I've ever met in my life."
The Rays' short-term future was already cloudy after Tropicana Field was deemed unplayable in 2025. Now their long-term future in the Tampa Bay region is doubtful, as well.
More news: Rays Have Timeline to Move Back Into Tropicana Field: Report
The Tampa Bay Times reported Tuesday the Rays sent a warning letter to Pinellas County commissioners saying a deal for a new stadium is, at best, in serious jeopardy but that the team stands "ready to work on a new solution" for a new venue in the region.
The Rays recently settled on Tampa's Steinbrenner Field, the home park of the New York Yankees' Class-A affiliate, as their 2025 home. That decision alleviated the most pressing short-term question of where the Rays would call home while local officials debate how — or if — to repair Tropicana Field. The city of St. Petersburg has leased Tropicana to the Rays since the franchise's inception in 1998.
The lease agreement runs through 2027. Until Hurricane Milton ripped through the region in October, the plan was for the Rays to finish out their lease then move into a brand-new ballpark in St. Petersburg in 2028.
More news: Where Will Rays Play in 2025? Major Leaguer Has 'Concerns' Over Outdoor Venues
However, a local bond measure that was presumed to help fund the stadium project is now in doubt. The Pinellas County commission opted to postpone its vote on issuing the bonds — a detail "that was thought to be a formality" according to John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times.
"Ostensibly, this was done in deference to hurricane damage, but the realistic outcome is that it extended the bond vote beyond a November election that ended up changing the makeup and disposition of the commission," Romano writes. "The Rays say the uncertainty of the new commission lineup forced them to halt construction plans, which means the stadium's opening would likely be in 2029 instead of 2028."
More news: Rays Decide on a Relocation Plan for 2025
Against this backdrop, it's no small matter that the newly elected commission is suddenly hostile to the Rays. Scott pushed the bond vote back a month, to December, he is still pessimistic about approving the county's portion of the stadium funds.
"At this moment, I'm not really optimistic about it," Scott said, according to the Times. "But we've got to remain hopeful. Got to remain hopeful."
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