Hillsborough College President embraces Rays ballpark plan, says it could transform Dale Mabry campus

Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater is embracing a proposal to anchor a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark and mixed-use district at the Dale Mabry campus, calling it a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the college.

After weeks of accelerating negotiations, state endorsements and early concept releases, Atwater told Florida Politics the proposal would give the college a chance to rebuild aging facilities, modernize the learning environment and position itself at the center of a broader regional redevelopment effort.

“This is going to be a game changer for us in relation to what we do at the Dale Mabry campus,” Atwater said. “In regard to facilities it is a game changer for us. We’re moving almost to a brand-new campus.”

Atwater said the Rays approached the college last Fall with a vision that included the institution as an integral part of the site. The concept, first unveiled publicly on Feb. 5, envisions a 31,000-seat ballpark surrounded by retail, entertainment, residential and academic space.

“They began talking about their vision for the site,” Atwater said. “Their vision simply included developing what they call a ‘live, learn, work and play area’ on the site, and that included us as being a part of the site.”

The Dale Mabry campus encompasses roughly 120 acres. Atwater said the Rays were seeking approximately 100 acres for the stadium and surrounding development, leaving room for the college to remain on-site — though in a reconfigured footprint.

The proposal would allow the college to replace aging infrastructure across the campus.

“We are living in almost 600,000 square feet of old facilities that constantly have repair work needs,” Atwater said. “I tease my faculty and staff that we’ll have elevators that work. But truly, the upgrade on the facility enhancement will be amazing. Truly, truly amazing.”

Hillsborough College’s Board of Trustees voted Jan. 20 to authorize negotiations through a nonbinding memorandum of understanding, clearing the way for discussions over a long-term lease and redevelopment agreement. Hillsborough County followed suit on Feb. 4, voting to open negotiations with the Rays about potential public financing, with debate already focusing on whether Community Investment Tax dollars could be used.

State legislators will also consider a $50 million appropriations request from the college sponsored by Zephyrhills Republican Sen. Danny Burgess. Atwater confirmed the funding would support planning and construction tied to a reimagined campus, though he cautioned that specific designs are not yet complete.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signaled that the state could be willing to support redevelopment of the college campus — so long as state funds do not go directly toward construction of the ballpark — during a press conference at the Dale Mabry campus on Feb. 3. The House budget proposal, released Thursday, does not include the $50 million appropriation but it could still be a part of the Senate budget proposal expected on Friday.

“We have not designed the new campus,” Atwater said. “Once the agreement is done, you’ll have a better picture about what it will mean for us.”

If the project moves forward, Atwater said the college would have the opportunity to design modern academic spaces aligned with contemporary learning models.

“We’ll get a chance to design those to represent what I call the 21st-century learning environment,” he said. “We’re now operating in a ’70s learning environment. It is a win-win for the college.”

Beyond facilities, Atwater highlighted potential workforce partnerships tied directly to the surrounding development. He said embedding the college within a mixed-use district anchored by a Major League Baseball franchise could open doors for internships, corporate partnerships and expanded curriculum offerings.

“It gives us an opportunity to partner with the Rays and the businesses that are coming in there,” Atwater said. “Our hospitality program will thrive, for example. Our IT programs will thrive through AI and cybersecurity, for example.”

Atwater stressed that the Rays — not the college — are leading financial negotiations for the ballpark itself.

“The Rays are taking the lead and taking responsibility for doing that, not us,” he said. “We are constantly meeting with the Rays to develop a plan, timeline and how we could do this. We’re developing an agreement with them, and that means we’re bargaining about issues, timing and all the things you bargain with an agreement.”

Rays ownership has publicly targeted a 2029 opening for a new ballpark. While acknowledging the timeline is aggressive, Atwater said his primary focus is managing what he described as a transition period while both the stadium and new campus facilities are constructed.

“The biggest priority will be in our transition period,” he said. “There will be a transition period for us while the stadium and the new college is being built. So our biggest priority is how we manage the transition efficiently so we maintain our quality learning environment.”

Atwater also addressed concerns raised during the Board of Trustees meeting about potential impacts on housing affordability. The college currently provides approximately 450 beds primarily for special population students, but he said the institution does not anticipate large-scale demand for additional on-campus housing because most students commute.

The broader mixed-use district could include residential components, though master plans are still evolving. Atwater noted that such developments are typically centered around retail and entertainment uses.

Ultimately, he framed the proposal as an opportunity to anchor Hillsborough College within the region’s long-term economic future.

“We do see this as a game changer,” Atwater said. “The opportunity to be that close to a ballpark — the Rays’ ballpark — and that close to being an integral part of the development center is ideal for us. It has the potential to be a great partnership.”