ST. PETERSBURG — Tropicana Discipline might not have a roof, however Tampa Bay does have rumors.
Do you just like the one about Stuart Sternberg promoting the staff, or the one a few new stadium plan in Tampa? Ought to we focus on the hard-to-believe whispers that the Seminole Tribe is eager about baseball, or the aptly named group of Dreamers in Orlando?
Spring is approaching, innuendo is blooming and the ceiling within the Rays clubhouse is dripping.
Um, play bawl?
It’s been six months since Tampa Bay’s stadium scenario was seemingly resolved, somewhat greater than three months for the reason that hurricanes hit and seemingly perpetually since we went by an offseason with out some degree of disaster involving cash, stadium or possession hypothesis.
It might really feel as if we’re heading towards a crescendo, however we’ve heard the clanging of cymbals earlier than.
The Rays haven’t tipped their hand since mid-December when the Pinellas County Fee agreed to approve bonds for a brand new stadium, albeit seven weeks after the staff was banking on the affirmative vote.
Now Sternberg has till March 31 to satisfy all of the circumstances to proceed with the redevelopment of the Historic Fuel Plant District and the constructing of the pavilion-style ballpark on the Trop property. It needs to be a formality, however it may find yourself being a fork within the street.
Let me clarify:
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred did Tampa Bay followers an enormous favor by seemingly reaffirming the sport’s dedication to the market, and by pressuring the Rays into agreeing with St. Pete’s plans to restore the Trop in time for the 2026 season.
Whereas that restricted the staff’s choices by way of a short lived, and even everlasting relocation, the concept the staff may have a facility in St. Pete by the 2028 season might have supplied the Rays with an extended runway to resolve their subsequent transfer.
Which can reduce the urgency of a possible sale within the coming months.
Ever since Pinellas commissioners delayed the bond gross sales in October and Sternberg stated the staff now not felt it had a associate within the county, probably the most logical final result seemed to be the sale of the staff. Sternberg insisted the delay had pushed up the stadium’s worth, however county and metropolis officers stated there was no verifiable proof of hovering prices. And, moreover, the event settlement made the Rays accountable for price overruns.
That stalemate satisfied some native leaders to start assembling potential possession teams to purchase the staff and both proceed with the Trop redevelopment, or think about alternate options in Hillsborough County. Up till a couple of months in the past, the Rays had been searching for traders to purchase minority shares within the staff, which might have supplied a money infusion for stadium development, however Sternberg now seems extra centered on promoting the staff outright.
May that occur earlier than the Rays’ opening day (March 28)?
It’s definitely potential.
However there’s additionally a state of affairs the place the Rays let the Fuel Plant/stadium deal lapse on March 31 and proceed a business-as-usual stance for the foreseeable future.
Why would they try this?
A lot of causes. They could possibly be inspired by the early response to ticket gross sales at Steinbrenner Discipline for 2025. Regardless of vital worth will increase, gross sales for high-end season tickets have gone exceptionally effectively. That would appear to confirm the idea that there’s more cash to be made in Tampa.
If the Fuel Plant stadium deal was nonetheless in impact, neither Sternberg nor a possible new proprietor may discuss to Tampa officers a few facility on that facet of the bay. By letting the brand new stadium deal expire, any Rays proprietor can be free to instantly start discussions a few ballpark in Hillsborough that may open in 2029.
Taking further time earlier than promoting the staff additionally may enhance the pool of aspiring house owners and drive the value up. In relation to baseball operations, the Rays entrance workplace has outsmarted numerous groups by shopping for low and promoting excessive.
Additionally, from a cynical perspective, Manfred is just not going to be in workplace perpetually and MLB’s view of Tampa Bay as a market may diminish if a swiftly repaired Tropicana Discipline doesn’t draw crowds from 2026-28.
The price and extent of repairs on the Trop remains to be very a lot an open query. A advisor’s report on the restore indicated roof alternative wouldn’t start till at the least June. That opens the potential of numerous rain between now and getting the stadium coated. Even minimal rain showers in January left standing water in varied locations contained in the stadium, together with buckets within the house clubhouse to seize dripping water.
Continued harm, and mildew prospects, may enhance the fee and restrict non-essential repairs of the ability.
For comparability’s sake, the gradual deterioration of the Oakland Coliseum lately performed a job in decrease attendance and an eventual relocation to Las Vegas. If the Trop and Tampa Bay undergo the same winddown, it may reopen the potential of a sale to an proprietor eager about transferring the staff.
And that’s not even contemplating the potential lawsuits the Rays appear to be pondering primarily based on correspondence with the town.
So, as you may see, potential choices stay plentiful.
It nonetheless appears possible that Sternberg will finally promote the staff — if the March 31 deadline is just not met it’s exhausting to think about one other stadium deal between Sternberg and Pinellas — however the potential of the Trop being out there from 2026-28 may imply the established order stays in impact for some time.
To not point out, continued uncertainty for the close to future.