- The Rays have lived in their current home, Tropicana Field, since 1998
- The team consistently ranks near the bottom in MLB attendance
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The Rays are reportedly set to announce a stunning new stadium, with images of the proposed new location showing off the $1.2 billion project in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The team has played at Tropicana Field since 1998, with the stadium routinely drawing some of the lowest attendances in the MLB.
Now, according to the Tampa Bay TimesThe Rays are expected to announce a brand new home on Tuesday.
According to the report, the stadium would be built close to Tropicana Field and is expected to seat about 30,000 people.
The site, which would be part of a redevelopment of the 86-acre Gas Plant District, is expected to open in the 2028 season.
Renderings of the new stadium project show a large-scale redevelopment of the gasworks district
The project will cost $1.2 billion, with the team contributing “half or more” of the money
The field would have a fixed dome roof and an artificial grass playing field, just like Tropicana Field.
According to the Times, Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said earlier this month that the team expected to pay for “half or more” of the project.
St. Petersburg and Pinellas County are also expected to contribute to the stadium.
The Rays have been one of the better teams in the league in recent years, but low attendance has prompted the franchise to explore different options for home games.
The Rays enter the postseason at 92-59 after clinching a playoff spot on Sunday
There was reportedly a plan for the team to split games between Montreal and Tampa, although that was vetoed by the MLB.
The Rays have the fourth-lowest average attendance (17,777) in the league this season, per ESPN.
Nevertheless, they hope to fill seats in the playoffs after clinching a postseason spot on Sunday.