The history of the Tampa Rays stadium search and what happens next

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If you've followed the Tampa Bay Rays for any amount of time; you know how the stadium saga has played out. There's been talk about moving out of Tropicana Field for years, seemingly without any real progress ever being made.

From a stadium in Tampa, to a new site in St. Pete, to a partial season in Montreal, and now, even rumors of Nashville, fans can only help but wonder what will become of their beloved Rays.

So, how did we get here? Here is a general timeline of all the recent news about the Rays and their never-ending stadium search:

Oct. 24, 2017

• Hillsborough County makes their move to steal Tampa Bay Rays from St. Petersburg

Feb. 9, 2018

• Tampa Bay Rays announce Ybor City as preferred site for new stadium

• Petition created to build new Tampa Bay Rays stadium in Ybor City

March 22, 2018

• New ad campaign attacks the potential use of public money for new Rays ballpark

March 26, 2018

• Tampa Chamber of Commerce hosts discussion on the proposed Ybor City stadium site for the Rays

June 7, 2018

• St. Pete begins planning future without the Rays and the Trop

July 10, 2018

• Tampa Bay Rays ballpark plans in Ybor City include translucent roof and sliding glass walls

July 11, 2018

• Questions remain about how Rays will fund new stadium

Dec. 5, 2018

• Hillsborough County lays out tentative framework for financing new Tampa Bay Rays Stadium in Ybor

Dec. 11, 2018

• Rays 'not close at all' to Ybor City stadium, will likely play at Tropicana Field through 2027

Jan. 4, 2019

• Rays announce more renovations to Tropicana Field

June 20, 2019

• Tampa Bay Rays receive permission from Major League Baseball's executive council to explore a plan in which they would play early-season home games in the Tampa Bay area and the remainder of the year in Montreal

• Sharing the Rays with Montreal is not an option, St. Pete Mayor Kriseman says

June 25, 2019

• Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg says they're committed to making split-season Montreal deal happen

July 22, 2019

• St. Pete mayor meets face to face with Rays owner Stuart Sternberg

July 28, 2019

• Player approval needed to move Rays to Montreal, baseball union says

Aug. 7, 2019

• Commissioner pitches new plan to land Tampa Bay Rays in Ybor City

Oct. 9, 2019

• Talks for where Rays should call home should go back to the beginning, Mayor Castor says

Feb. 7, 2020

• Montreal a 'much nicer city to be in than St. Petersburg,' prospective Rays partner says

Feb. 9, 2020

• Petition created to build new Tampa Bay Rays stadium in Ybor City

Feb. 10, 2020

• Rays meet with Tampa officials, team doubles down on Tampa Bay-Montreal sister city concept

Feb. 11, 2020

• Ybor City back in play for Rays future plans

Jan. 26, 2021

• St. Pete unveils 7 options for Tropicana Field Site redevelopment

March 8, 2021

• City of St. Petersburg announces Tropicana Field development partner shortlist

June 1, 2021

• St. Pete City Council Chair comes out in support of restarting negotiations with city of St. Pete and Rays

January 20, 2022

• Rays split-season plan with Montreal killed by MLB