MLB Commissioner: New Rays Owners Will Spearhead Fresh Stadium Hunt

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Tampa Bay Rays will start looking for a new stadium site after the team's sale finishes. He made this known at Front Office Sports' "Tuned In" event in New York on Tuesday.

"With new ownership, I think you have to assume it's kind of a clean slate, that they're going to decide about location," Manfred said, according to ESPN.

A group led by Patrick Zalupski is in talks to buy the team from Stu Sternberg. Since 2005, the team tried and failed three times to build new stadiums under Sternberg's leadership.

The most recent $1.3 billion stadium plan fell through in March due to Hurricane Milton's impact. Past attempts at Al Lang Stadium, Ybor City, and near Tropicana Field also went nowhere.

Right now, the team plays at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Bad weather has caused big problems: 16 rain delays across 15 games, with almost 15 hours of stopped play this season.

Yet Manfred stays positive about the team's future in the state. "I think Florida is the right place for that team. I think that there are opportunities in the Tampa Bay region that can be exploited in order to get a new stadium," he said.

MLB won't grow until both the Rays and Oakland Athletics find permanent homes. The Athletics broke ground on their Las Vegas venue this year, with plans to open in 2028. The Rays plan to return to a fixed-up Tropicana Field next year. "It's a great solution for 2026 compared to playing in a minor league ballpark with no roof in the Tampa climate," Manfred said.

The league wants to make choices about growing before Manfred steps down in January 2029. But first, they need to work out money-sharing rules and pick which cities might get teams.