Future Of Tropicana Field Focus Of Mayor Press Conference

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Tampa Bay Rays' long and complex stadium story could come to its final chapter soon.

That begins with an announcement St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch will make Wednesday, a city press release said.

The city said Welch would reveal the Tropicana Field site developer he chose. The finalists are Midtown Development based in Miami and Sugar Hill of San Francisco.

Former mayor, Rick Kriseman, began accepting Tropicana Field site proposals from developers across the nation in 2020. In December, Kriseman decided on Midtown Development to redevelop the 86 acres of the Tropicana site.

In January, Welch succeeded Kriseman as mayor; Welch was not all the way in with Kriseman's choice.

Welch told the Times on June 2 that he gave himself until June 30 to decide between Midtown and Sugar Hill. Both developers submitted plans with and without the Tropicana Field stadium.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said at a June 16 press conference in New York City that the Rays must make a stadium choice soon, the Associated Press reported.

Welch told the outlet, "there will be 'clarity' following his announcement on whether the Tampa Bay Rays will play in St. Petersburg or not."

The Rays have played at the Trop since they were founded in 1998; for 25 seasons. Devil Rays was the team's original name. The Rays have appeared in the World Series 2 times, in 2008 and 2020. They lost both times.

The Rays' lease is up at the stadium in 2027.

This is a developing story. Patch will be at Wednesday's 10 a.m. news conference and will keep you updated.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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