The Tampa Bay Rays' short-term and long-term future in St. Petersburg hangs in the balance. Baseball has set a condition of resolving ballpark issues in Tampa Bay and Oakland before considering new team additions. The Larry H. Miller Company remains focused on positioning Salt Lake City for an expansion franchise.

Uncertainty Looms for Tampa Bay Rays as Utah Awaits

Tampa Bay Rays' Ballpark Dilemma

The Tampa Bay Rays face a significant challenge as Hurricane Milton damaged the roof of Tropicana Field, their home in St. Petersburg. This has led to local government officials hesitating to fund the repair and the proposed new stadium set to open in 2028. The situation leaves the team's future in doubt. MLB.com reports that the short and long-term prospects are now uncertain. Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledges the uncertainty but emphasizes that it's too early to make firm declarations. He believes that the government officials in Tampa Bay need to sort out their issues. There is a lot at stake as the Rays are set to play the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field.This uncertainty not only affects the Rays but also has implications for the league's expansion plans. Baseball expansion timeline is closely tied to resolving these ballpark issues. The A's seem likely to move to Las Vegas with a new stadium set to open in 2028, and they will temporarily play in Sacramento. The Miller Company made a pitch for the A's to use Utah as an interim home but was unsuccessful.

Utah's Bid for an MLB Team

Steve Starks, CEO of the Miller Company, believes that Salt Lake City is "really well positioned" to land an MLB team. He understands that expansion is on the backburner for now as baseball deals with other priorities. However, they are in dialogue with the league and are prepared to wait for the right time. The Miller Company intends to build an MLB stadium as part of its $3.5 billion mixed-use development on Salt Lake City's west side if they secure a team. The Utah Legislature passed a bill to divert $900 million from a rental car tax increase to fund the ballpark in the Power District. Construction on other aspects of the project is expected to start early next year.Other possible expansion cities include Nashville, widely seen as the frontrunner, Portland, Montreal, Charlotte, and Austin. Earlier this year, ESPN baseball analyst Buster Olney and former Cy Young award winner David Cone both independently named Salt Lake City as the most likely expansion site after Nashville. This shows the potential and interest in Salt Lake City for an MLB team.