St. Petersburg officials are preparing to formally end their stalled stadium deal with the Tampa Bay Rays and move forward with new redevelopment plans.

The original $1.3 billion stadium proposal collapsed when the Rays chose not to proceed, letting a key agreement expire on March 31. Though that automatically voided other elements of the deal, city attorneys have drafted a formal termination agreement between the city, the Rays, and development partner Hines to make the split official.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on the agreement July 24. If approved, it would legally dissolve the broader redevelopment plans associated with the stadium and be recorded in the Pinellas County clerk’s office. That move would also free up portions of the Historic Gas Plant District for new uses—possibly even a convention center.

Draft documents obtained by the Tampa Bay Times show the termination would cancel the Historic Gas Plant Redevelopment Agreement, ending the Rays’ vision of building a new ballpark surrounded by condos, affordable housing, office space, and entertainment venues.

In the meantime, city attorneys have prepared new license agreements that would allow the Rays to continue using Tropicana Field, its adjacent parking areas, the I-275 marquee, and Lot 4 north of the Pinellas Trail for parking, storage, and events.

Despite the breakdown of the new stadium deal, the city and the Rays remain bound by a 1995 agreement—extended after Hurricane Milton damaged the Trop’s roof—that requires St. Petersburg to provide a stadium and parking through the 2028 season.

Under the draft terms, both parties commit to working in good faith for the remainder of that agreement.

Mayor Ken Welch is shifting focus to a new vision for the Gas Plant site, emphasizing equitable development that honors the historically Black community once displaced by Tropicana Field. The city still intends to pursue affordable housing, job creation, and opportunities for minority-owned businesses.

“The City will continue moving forward on delivering on the goal of equitable economic development of the Historic Gas Plant District,” said city spokesperson Samantha Bequer.

City development administrator James Corbett told council members last month that the city is partnering with Pinellas County to explore a feasibility study for a convention center on the site.

That announcement coincided with reports that the Rays are in exclusive negotiations to sell the team to Jacksonville-area homebuilder Patrick Zalupski. Mayor Welch, who previously ruled out further talks with the current ownership, welcomed the news and said new ownership could reopen the door for a baseball future in St. Petersburg.

Welch said he hopes to meet with Zalupski soon, though no meeting has yet been scheduled. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor confirmed she met with Zalupski in May.

For now, the city is focused on officially ending the stadium deal before discussing what comes next.

“I’m looking forward to closing this out and moving on,” said council member Gina Driscoll.

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(Image credit: MLB website)

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