The Tampa Bay Rays are a professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida, competing in Major League Baseball’s American League East Division. Established in 1998, the team has undergone significant changes and challenges in recent years.
Recent Developments:
- Stadium Issues: In October 2024, Hurricane Milton caused substantial damage to Tropicana Field, the Rays’ home stadium since 1998. As a result, the team announced plans to play the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training facility of the New York Yankees.
- Stadium Deal Collapse: In March 2025, the Rays withdrew from a proposed $1.3 billion project to build a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Owner Stuart Sternberg cited hurricane damage and financing delays as reasons for this decision, leaving the team’s long-term stadium plans uncertain.
- Team Performance: The 2024 season saw the Rays finish with an 80-82 record, placing fourth in the AL East and missing the postseason for the first time since 2018.
Team History:
- Establishment and Early Years: After years of efforts to bring MLB to the Tampa Bay area, the Rays began play as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998. The team struggled in its early years, finishing in last place in the AL East in all but one season from 1998 to 2007.
- Name Change and Success: In 2008, the team rebranded as the Tampa Bay Rays. That season marked a turning point, with the Rays winning their first AL East championship and advancing to the World Series, where they narrowly lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. They reached the World Series again in 2020 but fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Recent Performance:
- 2023 Season: The Rays started the season with a 13-game winning streak, tying the modern-era record. They clinched a postseason spot but were eliminated by the Texas Rangers in the American League Wild Card Series.
- 2024 Season: The team finished with an 80-82 record, marking their first losing season since 2017 and missing the postseason.
Current Challenges:
The Rays face uncertainty regarding their home stadium and future location. The collapse of the stadium deal and damage to Tropicana Field have left fans and officials concerned about the team’s long-term presence in St. Petersburg. Cities like Nashville, Charlotte, and Montreal have been mentioned as potential relocation sites, but no decisions have been made.