St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch announced on Monday his choice among four competing bids to redevelop Tropicana Field and the surrounding 86-acre site.
The city council must sign off on a development agreement, which might not happen until 2024. The Rays hold control over the stadium site’s land through the end of 2027, which gave them significant leverage in this process, and made it essential for the city to select the Rays’ preferred choice (Hines) as the developer for the site. If the two sides are unable to agree on a financing agreement for a new stadium, the club would likely being exploring the possibility of relocating for the 2028 season.