A looming December 31 deadline by which the Rays were required to officially announce intentions to quit Tropicana Field has intensified speculation and action toward a deal that would underpin the construction of a new stadium for the Rays in Ybor City. Today principle owner Stuart Sternberg announced the team would not be seeking to extend that deadline.
The reason: their hopes of finalizing a deal to build a new stadium in Ybor City are, for all purposes, dead.
The Rays announced their proposed site (and price tag) in July 2017.