MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred labeled his visit to Tropicana Field as routine with no particular agenda. However, the only thing anyone wanted to talk about was a new Rays stadium.

St. Pete mayor Rick Kriseman and Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan were even on hand.

Manfred said he has discussed it with principal owner Stu Sternberg and that it's time to move this issue to the front burner in Tampa Bay.

"I’ve been pretty clear that they need a new facility here," said Manfred in front of a crowded media availability. "A major league quality facility, in an A+ location."

So does the Commish prefer Pinellas or Hillsborough County?

"First of all I think the important thing is and I hope everybody here is focused on the idea that you want the Rays in Tampa Bay broadly defined."

But he did narrow in on the amount of progress, or lack there of. The St. Petersburg City Council approved looking for new sites in January of 2016, but Manfred didn't seem thrilled.

"You have to look at your alternatives if nothing gets done," said Manfred. " It is a topic of discussion in the industry, the lack of progress in terms of moving forward."

"Nobody wants it in the wrong place and to not get done correctly," said Sternberg. "If that means waiting a bit longer, we’ve waited this long. That’s fine. As the commissioner says, the drum beat is getting louder."

They Rays have been long rumored to be leaving town. Does Sternberg still think baseball can be successful in this market -- with the right site?

"Yes, or I would have bailed on this," said Sternberg. "I’ve had the opportunity to bail on this many times over the years. I won’t say it’s a slam dunk. It’s certainly not. All the more reason to get it correct"

Sternberg said they are down to “very few” potential sites in Pinellas and Hillsborough County. That number was in the teens when they started looking.

Sternberg again emphasized accessibility of the new site.

No matter where they land, Sternberg also said the necessity is to more than double the team's attendance. The Rays' average attendance (15,800) is currently last in the majors, with Wednesday's crowd for the game against Toronto was 8,264 -- the lowest since September 2006.