Rays to St. Pete: We’re finished looking elsewhere, for now

Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg. (Chris O'Meara/AP)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays officials say they’re dropping a bid to build a stadium in Tampa and remain mum on the team’s future in St. Petersburg.

The team sent a two-sentence letter to St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman on Monday informing the city it won’t seek to extend an agreement that allowed the Rays to explore new stadium sites in Hillsborough County.

Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg announced last week that the team is dropping its bid to relocate to Tampa’s Ybor City, where it had hoped to build a $900 million domed stadium with a translucent roof.

The Tampa Bay Times reports the team also hasn’t signalled an interest in pursuing a new stadium in St. Petersburg. The Rays are contracted to play in Tropicana Field through 2027.

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