Rays to make formal pitch to build stadium at Hillsborough College
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From left, Tampa Bay Rays co-chairs Bill Cosgrove and Patrick Zalupski and CEO Ken Babby pose for a photo soon after buying the team. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios
After an aborted agreement with St. Pete, the team's sale to new owners and months of speculation, the Tampa Bay Rays are targeting Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus as the site for their new stadium.
Why it matters: The team is staring down a tight window to build a new ballpark by Opening Day 2029 and will make a formal pitch to the college's board of trustees next week.
Driving the news: The Rays have asked Hillsborough College to enter into final, binding agreements that could clear the way for a stadium and mixed-use development on part of the Dale Mabry campus, per the board's agenda.
- Trustees will meet Tuesday to vote on an initial agreement outlining the basic terms for negotiating a final deal. The agreement doesn't commit the college to the project and can be ended at any time.
- Chair Gregory Celestan told Axios the team will brief the board on specifics, but said his understanding is that the proposal would include new academic buildings for the college.
What they're saying: Rays chief executive officer Ken Babby said during a recent podcast appearance that he believes the team's plan to open a new ballpark by April of 2029 will be successful.
- "Conversations have been really positive," he said. "I think there's a great sort of burning desire to figure this out."
Friction point: That timeline leaves little room for delays.
- If the new owners still intend on a public-private financing plan, it may face hurdles in Hillsborough County, where the commission has made a point of cutting spending.
- Lobbyists for the Rays have started making their rounds at the Board of County Commissioners, according to county records.
Zoom out: Even without the Rays, Hillsborough has its hands full.
- Raymond James Stadium needs repairs. The county agreed in October to commit $18 million in bed tax revenue to upgrades at Steinbrenner Field, where the New York Yankees train.
- The Tampa Bay Sun are angling for a stadium on Ybor City's waterfront, and an indoor sports arena on land surrounding the Museum of Science and Industry is already in the works.
- Benchmark International Arena is awaiting approval from the Hillsborough County Commission on a lease extension that would involve the county paying $250 million for renovations.
- The University of South Florida is also building an on-campus football stadium, which will increase demand on county and city services, though public funds will not be directly used for construction.
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.