ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mayor Ken Welch announced Wednesday that he is scrapping the bid process initiated by his predecessor that resulted in two groups competing for the rights to redevelop the 86-acre stadium site. He will seek new bids in the next four to five weeks with the aim of selecting a redevelopment group by the end of the year.
Bidders will be asked to include plans for a new baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, though the team continues to evaluate it options for where to play home games when it’s lease on Tropicana Field expires in 2027.
“I am impressed with the efforts of the two finalists,” Welch said in a statement. “They have listened to our community and have responded with their vision of the development of these 86 acres in accordance with our community needs in terms of housing, office space, meeting space, green space and impactful economic development, including inclusive opportunities for local and minority businesses.”
