Rays officially terminate negotiating window for new stadium

The Tampa Bay Rays have formally closed the three-year negotiating window that was permitted by the team’s Memorandum of Understanding with the City of St. Petersburg (via the City Council), which allowed a stadium search in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

The letter is a formality of what has been already known; the Rays stadium search has concluded, and the team is likely to play out the lease on Tropicana Field through 2027.

The full text of the team’s letter is as follows:

Dear Mayor Kriseman:

This letter shall serve as the “Decision Notice” [as that term is definted in that certain Memorandum of Understanding between Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Ltd. (the “Rays”) and that City of St. Petersburg (the “City”) dated January 15, 2016 (the “MOU”)]. Please be advised that, as required by Section 9.B. of the MOU, the Rays hereby notify the City that the Rays will not attempt to negotiate the “New Agreements” (as that term is defined in the MOU) or prepare a “Termination Agreement” (as that term is defined in the MOU).

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Very truly yours,

John P. Higgins

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Previously:

• “Now we need to regroup”: Rays officials address stadium conundrum
• Rays new stadium dream is over (for now)
• Read Rob Manfred’s letter regarding Tampa’s Rays Stadium proposal