In the wake of the Tampa Bay Rays’ announcement that they won’t move forward with the current stadium deal in St. Petersburg, many elected officials around the bay echoed the same response: disappointment. Others lambasted what they considered a bad deal for taxpayers from the start.

The Tampa Bay Rays announced Thursday, March 13, 2025, that they will not proceed with the development of a $1.3 billion baseball stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida.

After nearly two decades toiling for a new stadium, the Tampa Bay Rays finally struck a deal that ensured their long-term future in St. Petersburg. Thursday, they walked away, leaving $730 million in public funding on the table and the future of the franchise very much in doubt.