The St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday voted in favor of approving bonds to fund the new Tampa Bay Rays stadium in the Historic Gas Plant District. After weeks of stalled momentum to move forward with a deal already approved in July, the council’s decision puts the onus on the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, who will vote to approve funding on Dec. 17.
The vote was 4-3 in favor, after much deliberation among the council members and citizens who spoke during the open discussion. Council member Gina Driscoll indicated her support ahead of the vote, saying that the Rays hadn’t sent a termination letter. “They’re still in, and so am I,” she said, essentially assuring the vote would pass.
The Rays have previously indicated that the deal is all but dead, citing increased costs associated with the delay in approving the bonds. Council member Brandi Gabbard, who voted yes, said approving the bonds was effectively calling the Rays’ bluff by forcing them to adhere to the initial deal, instead of attempting to restructure it.
“We need to move this forward, because quite frankly, I think we’re calling their bluff by doing so,” Gabbard said before the vote. “We put it out there, we’re in. We’re a partner in this. Hopefully the county will follow suit.
“And then it will be up to the Rays to decide. It will be up to them to go back to their partners — go back and find other funding. And then when they can’t perform, it’ll be up to them to come back and say they can’t.”
Mayor Ken Welch spoke to the city council before the vote, urging members to approve the bonds. He said he met with the Rays and team owner Stu Sternberg earlier in the week. He said the consensus from that meeting was that the July agreement on the new stadium was still in effect.
The Pinellas County commissioners have twice delayed a vote on approving funding for the new stadium. Hurricane Milton ravaged the Tampa-St. Pete area on Oct. 10, making the Ray’s Tropicana Field venue unplayable in 2025. The Rays will instead play at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa next season, with a lack of clarity on their future beyond next season.
A damage assessment report released in November estimated that it would cost more than $55.7 million to fix Tropicana Field for the start of the 2026 season.
Speakers in attendance were split on whether or not the council should approve the bonds.
The Rays were not in attendance at the meeting. Council member Lisset Hanewicz noted their absence, stating that partners communicating through letters — as the Rays have — is an indicator of a bad partnership. City administrator Rob Gerdes later clarified that the Rays offered to attend, but were told it was not necessary.
Required reading
- Rob Manfred gives Rays 2026 deadline for stadium plan, says league expansion still proceeding
- Rays may not get new stadium in 2028, or at all, after vote to approve bonds postponed again
(Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
