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Ferg’s Sports Bar Will Consider Expansion to Tampa

The landmark business is weighing a new location as the Tampa Bay Rays prepare for their scheduled 2029 move to Tampa.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Isometric editorial illustration of a modern restaurant facade and outdoor seating area, depicting a business expansion strategy.
Ferg’s Sports Bar management is exploring a potential expansion into Tampa to align with the Rays' upcoming 2029 stadium relocation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Following the announcement that the Tampa Bay Rays will relocate to Tampa in 2029, management at the long-standing Ferg’s Sports Bar is considering opening a secondary location near the team’s planned stadium. The business has served as a fixture in St. Petersburg for over three decades.

Why it matters

The potential expansion follows a challenging period for the establishment after the Rays departed St. Petersburg in 2025. The business was originally founded specifically to serve fans visiting the stadium located across the street.

The business supports a staff of 140 employees and reports annual gross sales of approximately $14 million. The venue has recorded single-day sales exceeding $350,000 during high-attendance games.

The players

Mark Ferguson

He is the founder and proprietor who established the sports bar adjacent to the stadium.

Tampa Bay Rays

This professional baseball franchise is planning to shift its home base from St. Petersburg to Tampa.

The details

Founded in 1992, the bar historically thrived on its proximity to the stadium and its outdoor concert venue. Management now seeks to adapt to the changing landscape of Tampa Bay professional sports after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof at Tropicana Field in 2024.

Timeline

  1. Mark Ferguson opened Ferg's Sports Bar in 1992.

  2. Hurricane Milton struck St. Petersburg on October 9, 2024.

  3. The Rays temporarily left St. Petersburg in 2025.

  4. The Rays played games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2026.

  5. The Tampa Bay Rays plan to relocate to Tampa in 2029.

Market Landscape

This move highlights the trend of hospitality businesses realigning their operations to follow professional sports teams as they relocate to new urban stadiums. The shift mirrors the evolving footprint of stadium-district commerce as teams abandon older venues for modernized facilities.

Local customers and sports fans may see new dining options emerge in the stadium district as the business evaluates its expansion strategy. The shift could eventually lead to new employment opportunities for residents in the immediate vicinity of the planned stadium site.

The takeaway

Business owners in stadium districts must often remain agile to survive the shifting geography of professional sports teams. Diversifying venue offerings, such as adding outdoor concert spaces, can help local establishments endure periods of reduced game-day foot traffic.

Further reading

Learn more about local business developments in the Tampa Openings & Closings section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The New York Times.

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