Updated Jul 24, 2025 - Sports

Readers make their pick for a Rays stadium site in Hillsborough

Illustration of a location pin wearing a Tampa Bay Rays baseball hat. — Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios. Photo: Victor Decolongon /Getty Images

As the Rays prepare for a sale to Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski, the team still lacks a site for its long-term home.

But Axios Tampa Bay readers have a strong preference among the rumored options.

Why it matters: Where the team builds its next stadium will reshape its surroundings, changing the fabric of neighboring communities — likely at a significant cost to taxpayers.

Zalupski reportedly prefers to build in Hillsborough County.

Zoom in: We asked readers which Hillsborough County location they'd pick for a potential Tampa Bay Rays stadium and the results are in.

Almost 43% of the 1,313 readers who weighed in chose Ybor Harbor; 26% voted for the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Between the lines: The forthcoming mixed-use development also caught the eye of Hillsborough Commissioner Ken Hagan (R) and Tampa City Council Member Alan Clendenin, both of whom are on the Tampa Sports Authority.

Ybor Harbor is part of developer Daryl Shaw's larger effort — along with Gasworx — to connect Ybor City to downtown Tampa. It's also where the Tampa Bay Sun envisioned their stadium.
Clendenin told Axios that any plan to move the Rays to the Florida State Fairgrounds should be "dead on arrival."

What we're hearing: "Ybor City is the place to be," Clendenin said. "There's still going to be land opportunities there [for a soccer stadium], but maybe not exactly where it was planned."

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Readers make their pick for a Rays stadium site in Hillsborough

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