3<\/p>\n Tropicana Field has been repaired but its long-term future is in doubtCredit: Getty<\/p>\n But the Rays <\/a>see their long-term future in Tampa Bay and have identified a site at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus.<\/p>\n Manfred hailed the new Tampa Bay ownership group led by Patrick Zalupski, Bill Cosgrove and Ken Babby for their work with the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the most important point, and not only did I make it, but I think the other clubs said, (is that) the amount of progress that Patrick, Ken Babby and Bill have made in a really short period of time is absolutely phenomenal,” he said Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cI think people are pleased about the site. We described exactly where it\u2019s at geographically, [so] really pleased with the site. <\/p>\n MORE ON MLBMLB eyes $4.2 billion expansion with two cities leading way in potential East Coast snub<\/p>\n “[We\u2019re] optimistic that we\u2019re going to get a solution that\u2019s good for the Rays in the Tampa Bay region and good for baseball<\/a>, frankly.\u201d<\/p>\n Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten was part of the committee that awarded Tampa Bay an expansion franchise in 1995.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems like they are closer than ever, which is wonderful news for that organization, which deserves it, and for all the rest of baseball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is also behind the project and Manfred told the Tampa Bay Times <\/a>that the New York Yankees<\/a>, whose spring training stadium Steinbrenner Field will likely be impacted, have no complaints.<\/p>\n How Magic Johnson turned $40m NBA earnings into $1bn empire including Dodgers<\/p>\n <\/a> Angry’That\u2019s why I said no to your stupid commercial’ – WWE star rages at her 2K20 rating<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The Yankees allowed the Rays to play at Steinbrenner Field in 2025 as The Trop was being repaired.<\/p>\n Hurdles still remain, not least over finances.<\/a><\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off the stadiumCredit: Getty<\/p>\n The franchise has offered to front up half the cost plus the price of any overruns.<\/p>\n Hillsborough County, The City of Tampa and the state could all be involved in funding.<\/p>\n When will the Rays move into their new home?<\/p>\n A 2029 date is being proposed for opening with 31,000 seats planned in a design that some fans compared to a mini SoFi Stadium.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think we have been thrilled with the momentum in the community but still have an enormous amount of work ahead of us,\u201d Babby said. \u201cAs I said a few weeks ago, we\u2019re still in the early innings of our work, but very pleased with the community\u2019s response.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a critical period for us now to be out in the community, and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re going to be. We were with the firefighters union this week, we\u2019ll be with a number of other community groups, including police and other select organizations. <\/p>\n “We want to be out everywhere, talking about why, talking about community impact, talking about jobs, talking about the college.<\/p>\n![\"Tropicana](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/general-overall-view-tropicana-field-1051498626.jpg\")
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