(The Center Square) – St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch had a message for the Tampa Bay Rays: Either take the previously negotiated stadium deal or walk away from the plan.
Welch made the remarks during his annual state of the city address on Tuesday.
Welch used his 2023 state of the city speech to announce the stadium deal to build a new park for the Rays in the old Gas Plant District, which was signed by all of the parties in July.
“We have a carefully negotiated set of agreements that council approved, and all parties signed barely six months ago,” Welch said. “We will not pursue an agreement at any cost. The greatness and future of St. Petersburg does not depend solely on this deal.
“I am confident that we have given this endeavor our very best effort – and it’s an effort and a process that we can all be proud of. Stay tuned – and we will keep working, until the final out.”
Welch’s statements came after Rays’ owner Stuart Sternberg said the team will make a decision on the stadium deal ahead of a March 31 deadline for the team. Under the deal, the team will contribute $700 million to the stadium, which team officials say will open in 2029, a year behind schedule.
“I also believe in transparency, so, to the citizens of St. Pete, let me be clear,” Welch said. “As I’ve stated throughout this process, this plan can only be successful with partnership. The City Council and the County Commission have fulfilled all of the city and county obligations to date. If we still have a willing partner in the Rays – and we continue to have conversations with them – then we will move forward, and that is my clear preference.
“But as your mayor, please know that we are prepared, and have always been prepared to adapt, adjust and move forward if the Rays walk away from this partnership.”
Welch also said if the Rays decide not to proceed, the 86 acres that will have the mixed-use development and the $1.3 billion retractable roof stadium will revert to the city. He said officials will have three to four years (dependent on repairs to the Rays’ existing stadium, Tropicana Field) to “implement another path forward.”
The project has been hit by delays caused by Category 3 Hurricane Milton, but both the City Council and the County Commission approved bonds to finance the stadium and the surrounding development in December.
The City Council also voted to approve and then delay about $23 million to repair the roof of the Rays’ present home, Tropicana Field, that was heavily damaged by Milton. The storm tore 18 out of 24 roof panels from the stadium, which was built in 1990. The stadium requires an estimated $55 million in repairs.
The Rays will play their home games in 2025 at the New York Yankees’ spring training park, George Steinbrenner Field, in Tampa.
