Two hours before a crucial vote Tuesday, the Rays sent a stern letter to Pinellas County commissioners informing them that the team can no longer move forward with a stadium deal under the current terms.

Pinellas County commissioners voted again Tuesday night to delay a key vote on a deal to build a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium. Why it matters: Another delay means more uncertainty over a region-defining plan to transform the site of Tropicana Field into a new ballpark surrounded by a redeveloped Historic Gas Plant District.

Hours before the meeting, the Tampa Bay Rays sent a letter to the Board of County Commissioners, blaming the delay on the county’s “failure to finalize” the bonds required to secure a 2028 stadium opening. The letter warned that pushing the vote would delay the opening to 2029, significantly increasing costs.