(St. Petersburg) The Tampa Bay Rays are expected to confirm Tuesday that they have reached an agreement to build their new stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, the daily says Tamba Bay Times.
The construction of the stadium with a roof for 30 thousand seats, scheduled to open in 2028, would cost more than 1.2 billion dollars. The start of the project should at the same time put an end to rumors of a change in the team – including one that mentioned the possibility of shared custody with Montreal.
The 30-year lease for Tropicana Field, the current home of the Rays, will expire in 2027. The Florida franchise has analyzed numerous alternatives, including establishing itself in Tampa, as the public that attends its games has been hungry for years.
Rays owner Stuart Sternberg told Tampa Bay Times earlier this month that the grant expected to have to cover “half, if not more” of the bill resulting from the construction of the new stadium.
The new stadium is part of an impressive revitalization project for St. Petersburg’s refinery district – a project that will include low-income housing, offices and retail.
