We have compiled below reaction from Bay area mayors, city council members, county commissioners and more in the wake of the Tampa Bay Rays announcement Thursday that they will no longer pursue a much-discussed stadium project.

We will continue adding to this list as statements come in.

SEE ALSO: A look back at how we got here: The long and winding road of the Rays stadium pursuit

ST. PETERSBURG MAYOR KEN WELCH

"I’d like to thank the St. Petersburg City Council, our dedicated city staff, Pinellas County Commission and staff, and our business and community partners from St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay region, for their extraordinary collaboration, commitment, and countless hours spent on the stadium and Historic Gas Plant District (HGPD) Development agreements.  

While the decision of Tampa Bay Rays ownership to terminate the agreements for a new stadium and new development is a major disappointment, it is not unexpected. Nor is it the end of the Historic Gas Plant District story.  

The city will continue to pursue all avenues that will help us deliver on our ultimate goal: utilizing the HGPD property to benefit the community and fulfilling the 40-year-old promises of economic development and opportunity made to the African-American community in St. Petersburg, as well as the community priorities identified through the current development process, which began in 2022.  

The city intends to honor our current commitment to repair Tropicana Field in accordance with the current use agreement. As for the future of baseball in our city - if in the coming months a new owner, who demonstrates a commitment to honoring their agreements and our community priorities, emerges - we will consider a partnership to keep baseball in St. Pete. But we will not put our city’s progress on hold as we await a collaborative and community-focused baseball partner.  

We will move forward on the equitable economic development of the HGPD, honoring the 40-year-old promise of inclusive economic development on this historic land. We will consider a phased approach, accounting for the city’s obligations under the current use agreement. After decades of waiting, this sacred land will again bear the fruit of housing, jobs and beneficial community development. We look forward to working with our City Council and the community on the next phase of this important journey.

ST. PETE COUNCILMAN COREY GIVENS, JR.

"(The Rays) can't meet the deadline. They don't have the financial feasibility and, unfortunately, we as a city cannot bail them out. We have residents who have suffered from back to back hurricanes last October, last September, and that's our priority. Taking care of people, not taking care of baseball. So, I wish Mr. Sterburg well, but I'm excited to have another conversation to see if we can restructure this agreement and get back to the drawing board."

ST. PETE COUNCIL CHAIR COPLEY GERDES

"I'm certainly disappointed. You know, I'm disappointed for the work that the city and county has done. Countless employees have spent thousands of hours on this. I'm disappointed for the economic development, job creation, Gas Plant descendants, those promises.

"St. Pete, I believe, is a major league city. I believe currently and certainly for the next few years we are a major league baseball city. I would love for us to continue to be a major league baseball city."

TAMPA MAYOR JANE CASTOR

"Disappointed the Rays aren't following through with stadium plans in St Pete. The goal has always been to keep the team in Tampa Bay. The City, Tampa Sports Authority & County are happy to talk with the team again, but any proposal has to make sense for our taxpayers & community."