The Rays cannot exit their lease at Tropicana Field before '27 without approval from St. Petersburg getty images
St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman has confirmed that the Rays have "'formally' asked for permission to explore vacating" Tropicana Field for half of the their home games so they can split the season with Montreal at some point "before the end" of their lease in '27, according to Josh Solomon of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The Rays would "need the city's blessing to play elsewhere" before their lease of Tropicana Field expires. Rays Owner Stu Sternberg had previously said that he would "like to see that arrangement" as soon as '24. Sternberg and Rays co-Presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld have "met at least three times with Kriseman and other city leaders" since announcing their idea for splitting time between Tampa and Montreal. Kriseman said that the request for permission to vacate was "oral and that nothing has been put in writing." The St. Pete City Council would have to "approve any agreement that allows the team to begin negotiations to play in Montreal or elsewhere" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/31). Angels manager Joe Maddon, who managed the Rays from '06-14, believes fans in the Tampa area would support the team in a "grand facility that has all the amenities." He said, "The right ballpark in the right location with real baseball fans, which I think exist here, you'll find the folks to show up" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/31).
