Major League Baseball has taken a major step in resolving longstanding stadium challenges for both the Oakland Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays recently secured approval for a $2.3 billion ballpark and entertainment complex near Tampa's airport, ensuring their continued presence in the Tampa Bay Area. This development is set to replace their aging Tropicana Field with a new venue opening in 2029. In contrast, the Athletics are set to move out of Oakland altogether, relocating to Las Vegas by 2028 with a new $2 billion stadium on the Strip, marking a significant change for their fan base.

The stadium issues for these two teams have been a significant hurdle for MLB commissioners Bud Selig and Rob Manfred. While Selig initiated efforts like a Blue Ribbon Committee in 2009 to find a stadium solution for the Athletics, these efforts ultimately failed. Manfred, who took over as commissioner in 2015, inherited these complicated issues and, despite criticism on various fronts, managed to bring closure by overseeing the Rays' new stadium project approval and the Athletics’ relocation to Las Vegas. Manfred’s role in resolving these challenges forms a prominent part of his legacy heading into his retirement in January 2029.

The Rays faced numerous setbacks, including owner Stew Sternberg’s withdrawal of two separate ballpark deals—one in Ybor City in 2018 and another adjacent to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg in 2025, partially due to hurricanes damaging their existing stadium. Sternberg’s exit led to a $1.7 billion sale of the team to Jacksonville-based developer Patrick Zalupski. Under new ownership, Tampa Bay’s local governments finally unified behind the current $2.3 billion project, supported by the state’s donation of land and public funding, aimed at providing the Rays a modern, permanent home.

Though both projects had hurdles, the Rays' situation ended more positively with local government votes last week allowing construction to begin. The team will remain in the Tampa Bay area, starting two more seasons at Tropicana Field before moving. The Athletics’ move to Las Vegas follows nearly two decades of stadium-related uncertainty and multiple location proposals. Amidst these changes, Commissioner Manfred views the stadium resolutions as a key achievement and a foundation for MLB’s ongoing growth in these markets.