The Tampa Bay Rays target Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus as the location for their new ballpark, aiming to relocate from St. Petersburg to Tampa. After significant repairs from Hurricane Milton, Tropicana Field stands ready for the 2026 season. The team has entered a non-binding memorandum of agreement with the college, with the overall project estimated at $2.3 billion.

Political Support and Rising Costs

Governor Ron DeSantis expresses optimism about the Rays’ future in the region. “I do think Tampa Bay, that’s where the team was berthed. We do want to see it succeed in this region,” DeSantis stated. “I think it can succeed. A hundred percent, I think it can succeed. Our role can be just to help HC negotiate something that’s going to be good for them and be good for the Rays. And we’re happy to do that.”

The proposed stadium in Tampa marks a sharp increase, costing about $1 billion more than the earlier St. Petersburg plan from two years ago. Tampa Councilman Charlie Miranda shifts the financial burden to the team’s owners, who acquired the franchise for approximately $1.7 billion in 2025. “If they have the money to buy it, they should have the money to build their own house,” Miranda remarked.

Ownership’s Commitment and Partnership Needs

Rays CEO Ken Babby affirms the ownership group’s willingness to invest substantially. “We’re going to do our part. We’re going to write a big check. We already wrote one to buy the team,” Babby said. “We are going to write another big one to buy the ballpark, but we need a good public-private partnership.”

Babby emphasizes the importance of collaboration for long-term success, noting the team’s dedication to the project.

Upcoming Decisions and Economic Scrutiny

The Tampa Sports Authority prepares to vote on conducting an economic study to assess benefits for the city and county. Miranda supports the idea but insists on impartiality. “I support any study, but it’s got to be verified,” he said. “I want it statistically from a non-committed organization — not committed to them, not committed to us. An unbiased study that’s done so everybody understands where you’re at, including the land that they’re going to have, that they pay no tax. How would we, the city, benefit from that if they weren’t here? It’s got to be a two-way study, it can’t just be one way.”

The Rays continue to face challenges with attendance, even as a small-market team with notable achievements. Their agreement with Hillsborough College provides a six-month period for negotiations, while the team remains under lease at Tropicana Field through 2028.

Optimism for Development and Team Legacy

Babby remains confident in the vision. “What I can say with certainty is that we believe with conviction that we’re going to be able to create a world-class work-live-learn-play development here in Tampa Bay, and we’re very, very encouraged and pleased by today’s outcome,” he added.

The Rays boast a strong history, securing American League East titles in 2008, 2010, 2020, and 2021. They reached the World Series twice, falling to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.