Former Governor Charlie Crist proposed on April 14 that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could relocate from Tampa to St. Petersburg if the Tampa Bay Rays leave for a new stadium across the bay. Crist, who is expected to run for Mayor of St. Petersburg, said this idea would keep major league sports in the city and benefit both communities.
The proposal comes after a failed attempt to keep the Rays in St. Petersburg through a redevelopment deal at the Historic Gas Plant site, which collapsed following damage from Hurricane Milton and rising costs in late 2024. As reported by Florida Politics, discussions are now underway about moving the Rays to Tampa’s Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus.
Crist noted that while it may seem unlikely for the Buccaneers—who have played in Tampa since 1976—to move, their lease at Raymond James Stadium expires in 2028, creating an opportunity for negotiation. He referenced recent events such as Hillsborough County spending $250 million on arena renovations for the Lightning and both the Bucs and Rays seeking public funding for new or improved facilities totaling up to $1 billion each.
“You got three irons in the fire. None of them are cheap. All of them are expensive,” Crist said during a phone interview regarding local sports teams’ demands on public resources.
Crist also pointed out similar moves considered by other professional football teams, including proposals involving Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears relocating within their metropolitan areas.
With mayoral elections scheduled for August 18—and a potential runoff on November 3—Crist emphasized his commitment to exploring all options: “It would be a great opportunity, obviously, for both sides of the bay to participate in professional sports in a meaningful way, and so why not explore it at a minimum and shoot for the moon if you can.”
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