MLB commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that the Tampa Bay Rays are likely to restart their search for a new ballpark site in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area after the team is sold to new ownership, with the process expected to take years.

The Rays are currently in the process of being sold by owner Stu Sternberg to a group led by Patrick Zalupski, amid previous failed attempts to secure new stadium deals.

The Rays have played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg since 1998, but due to hurricane damage and low attendance, they temporarily played at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa in 2025 and are expected to return to Tropicana Field in 2026.

MLB Commissioner Manfred expressed strong support for keeping the Rays in Florida, emphasizing that the team might return to Tropicana Field in 2026 and that new ownership will have the opportunity to explore options for a new stadium in the Tampa Bay region.

Previous attempts to develop new stadiums at sites like Al Lang Stadium, Ybor City, and near Tropicana Field have all fallen through, with the latest project being withdrawn in March due to delays and hurricane impacts.

MLB is considering expanding from 30 to 32 teams once new stadiums are built for the Rays and the Athletics, with the Oakland Athletics' new ballpark in Las Vegas scheduled to open in 2028.

Expansion could lead to league realignment to reduce travel and improve regional play, and MLB owners are now more open to discussions about realignment than in previous decades.

The decision to expand depends on revenue sharing and how owners perceive the benefits, with potential new markets and cities being considered for the additional teams.

Manfred emphasized that a new ownership would likely approach the ballpark location with a 'clean slate' and that regional relationships and contacts would be necessary to determine the best site for long-term success.

Manfred highlighted the importance of regional opportunities in Tampa Bay and suggested that the team might return to Tropicana Field in 2026, which he considers a better solution than playing in a minor league ballpark.

Manfred hopes to make an expansion decision before his term ends in January 2029, but the process involves considerations of revenue sharing and identifying suitable cities for new teams.