### Tampa Mayor Open to Discussions with Rays as Stadium Deal Stalls

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays have communicated to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners that a new ballpark will not be feasible by the 2028 season, and pushing the opening to 2029 would result in prohibitively high costs. This disclosure coincides with an impending vote by the Pinellas County Commission on approving stadium bonds, a decision already delayed once.

In their letter, the Rays highlighted that the county's inability to finalize the bonds has halted plans for a 2028 ballpark opening. “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 stated.

The team further emphasized the financial implications of postponing the project. "As we have made clear at every step of this process, a 2029 ballpark delivery would result in significantly higher costs that we are not able to absorb alone," the letter read.

The Rays have notified their architects, builders, and consultants to halt work on the project due to the uncertainty around the stadium agreement. This suspension affects not only the ballpark but also the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. To date, the team has invested over $50 million into the project, and both St. Petersburg and Pinellas County had previously approved the agreement, putting this substantial investment at risk.

Meanwhile, ABC Action News inquired with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor about the city's interest in revisiting talks to potentially bring the Rays to Tampa. A representative from Mayor Castor's office responded that "she and the city's other partners would be happy to talk to the Rays if the appropriate time comes."

The unfolding situation leaves the future of the Rays’ stadium plans uncertain, with financial and logistical challenges that must be addressed promptly.