We heard last week that the Rays and the city of St. Petersburg reached an agreement to allow the team to look for a potential new stadium site in Hillsborough County. It was a tiny victory, but the deal needed to be approved by the St. Petersburg City Council first. That vote happened today, and well, it appears that there’s yet another roadblock:
#Rays stadium deal is rejected by St. Pete City Council
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 18, 2014
This vote could have major ramifications, as Rays owner Stu Sternberg has previously said that he would likely sell the team if a new stadium deal is unable to be reached. Of course, that could open up the possibility of the team being moved to a new city. The Rays’ current lease at Tropicana Field expires in 2027.
UPDATE: Below is a statement from the Rays.
Statement from #Rays President Brian Auld on today's decision by the St. Petersburg City Council: pic.twitter.com/mKDRV1kZIE
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) December 18, 2014