St. Petersburg finds itself in a precarious situation regarding the construction of a $1.3 billion stadium. The City Council's decision to delay taking on hundreds of millions in debt has put the entire $6.5 billion plan on hold. This delay could potentially give two newly elected council members a say, who have been critical of the terms. It remains unclear if the deal will even progress further. City Administrator Rob Gerdes expects the Rays to send a termination letter, canceling the agreement altogether. The team's next move is uncertain - whether it will seek a new deal with different terms or leave St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay after nearly 30 years.
Key Players and Their Stances
Council member Gina Driscoll, whose district includes Tropicana Field and initially voted in favor of the stadium project in July, led the charge to delay the financing vote. She believes more time is needed to save the deal. Mayor Ken Welch also thinks there is a way to keep the plans alive and is prepared to bring a modified plan back to the City Council. Chairperson Deborah Figgs-Sanders, who has supported the stadium and redevelopment project, voted with Driscoll to delay the vote along with critics Lisset Hanewicz, Richie Floyd, and John Muhammad. Council members Brandi Gabbard and Copley Gerdes opposed the delay.The Bond Issue and County Commission
The city was aiming to finalize a bond issue to cover its share of the stadium costs, which is $287.5 million. It also planned to finance $142 million for roads and sewers in the Gas Plant District. However, the Pinellas County Commission voted to delay financing its pledged contribution to the stadium until December 17. Without a change of mind from a commissioner, it seems unlikely that the bonds will be approved, leaving a $312.5 million gap in financing. Two hours before the county meeting, Rays presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman sent a letter informing commissioners that the team can no longer proceed with the stadium deal under the current terms, and all work on the stadium and the Gas Plant project has stopped.The Tropicana Field Roof Repair
Earlier in the day, the council approved spending $24 million on a new roof for Tropicana Field, expected to be ready just in time for Opening Day 2026. But this vote was later reversed and unanimously rejected to allow the city to work on architectural plans, fulfilling its obligations under the 1995 use agreement. Brandi Gabbard proposed revisiting the funding for repairs, stating that the delay in bond financing has made the stadium saga even more uncertain. Auld said that without the repair vote, the Rays would have more certainty as he is unsure if the roof will be fixed in a timely manner.The Meeting Mood and Future Outlook
After the bonds vote, the meeting paused for a break, and the mood was somber. The future council members embraced, realizing that the plans they had just months ago might not come to fruition. "This is a sad place," said Figgs-Sanders. "I'm really disappointed." Times staff writer Jack Evans contributed to this report.