After pivotal week, new Tampa Bay Rays stadium vision goes public as funding questions arise

The Tampa Bay Rays this week unveiled a “first look” at a proposed 31,000-seat ballpark and surrounding mixed-use district in Tampa, as debates over public funding and government involvement moved to the forefront of negotiations over the franchise’s future home.

The Rays launched a public website offering early access to seating at a new ballpark proposed for Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, while previewing the scope of a stadium-anchored redevelopment in Tampa’s Westshore District. The team projects nearly 12,000 on-site jobs, millions of annual visitors and $34 billion in direct economic impact over 30 years, figures that have not been independently verified.

The website includes concept renderings depicting a modern, enclosed ballpark surrounded by a dense, pedestrian-oriented district organized into four themed areas.

Champions Quarter includes the stadium and adjacent entertainment and retail. Innovation Edge integrates Hillsborough College facilities with health, sports science and workforce development spaces. The Canopy is described as a parkside neighborhood emphasizing greenery and community gathering areas. The Row is envisioned as a signature street designed to connect the campus and encourage walkability.

The Rays are also promoting an early-access program that allows fans to secure priority seating and early access to ticket inventory in exchange for a $19.98 deposit, a reference to the franchise’s founding year.

The release of the website and concept art comes as negotiations over the Rays’ future in Tampa Bay accelerated sharply in recent weeks.

On Jan. 20, Hillsborough College’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a nonbinding memorandum of understanding authorizing staff to begin negotiations with the Rays. College officials emphasized that the vote did not commit the institution to a final deal, but opened a negotiation window. Binding agreements would require Board approval at a future public meeting.

The Hillsborough County Commission followed on Feb. 4, unanimously authorizing County Administrator Bonnie Wise to begin formal negotiations with the Rays and their partners over potential public funding for the project. While Commissioners stressed the vote did not guarantee any financial commitment, debate quickly sparked over whether Community Investment Tax (CIT) revenue — a voter-approved sales tax — could play a role.

Several Commissioners warned that voters were assured the tax would not be used to build new professional sports facilities, while others argued negotiations cannot proceed without CIT funds.

State officials have also stepped into the conversation. Zephyrhills Republican Sen. Danny Burgess submitted a $50 million state appropriations request on behalf of Hillsborough College for campus improvements, including academic facilities, workforce training programs and infrastructure upgrades.

While the request does not reference a stadium, its projected construction timeline closely aligns with the Rays’ goal of opening a new ballpark by April 2029.

Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly endorsed the Dale Mabry concept during a Feb. 3 press conference at the campus, signaling support for state involvement that does not include direct ballpark funding. Appearing alongside MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Rays CEO Ken Babby and Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater, DeSantis outlined potential state participation through land transfers, campus reinvestment, transportation improvements and infrastructure support.

The renewed push in Hillsborough County comes as the Rays prepare to return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg in 2026, following extensive repairs after hurricane damage forced the team to spend the 2025 season playing home games at Steinbrenner Field — located immediately adjacent to the Dale Mabry campus.

Under the team’s existing agreement, St. Petersburg is contractually obligated to keep Tropicana Field playable through 2028, effectively setting 2029 as the earliest possible opening window for a new stadium elsewhere in the region. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and other local officials have called that timeline aggressive, though Welch has indicated the city is willing to extend the Rays’ lease if necessary.

St. Petersburg is also evaluating proposals to redevelop the Tropicana Field site at the city’s Historic Gas Plant District, which once appeared poised to remain the Rays’ long-term home before negotiations collapsed and the franchise changed ownership.

The Dale Mabry campus proposal remains in its early stages, but has been bolstered this week by recent political endorsements and preliminary negotiations with local and state officials. The Rays’ “first look” presents a snapshot of the team’s vision to the public, who could end up footing a substantial portion of the bill.