Nowicki beat incumbent Charlie Justice, a stadium supporter and the lone commissioner who voted against delaying the bond vote in October. He told the Times he is a “solid no vote” and he thinks the Rays want to blame the deal falling apart on the commission’s delay.

Where the Tampa Bay Rays play in the coming years has been a point of discussion in recent weeks, what with Hurricane Milton wreaking havoc on The Trop, the Rays needing to play in a minor-league park in 2025 and their move to a new ballpark for the 2028 season.

St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch is pushing back on the belief that the deal between the city, the county, and the Rays to build a new stadium is in trouble following Hurricane Milton.

The Tampa Bay Rays plan to move out of its home county temporarily has reportedly angered commission members set to vote on bonds for a new ballpark.

Damages from Hurricane Milton delayed crucial voting on the Rays' 2028 stadium funding, jeopardizing the deal. Read more at MLB Trade Rumors.