The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5‑2 on Friday to approve its $796 million share of a mixed‑use entertainment district that will feature a new 31,000‑seat stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. The stadium, projected to open in 2029, will sit near Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
One day earlier, the Tampa City Council approved an $80 million contribution, passing 4‑3. Rays CEO Ken Babby said the partnership with the county and city “secures the long‑term future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay” and will make the ballpark a “Forever Home” for the team.
Funding and Development Details
The Rays have pledged at least $1.3 billion toward the project, with the ownership group also covering any cost overruns. An additional $30 million will be sourced from federal disaster recovery funds.
Earlier this year the ownership group reached an agreement with Hillsborough College to locate the stadium and surrounding entertainment district on the college’s campus, with plans to renovate several campus buildings. The site is adjacent to the New York Yankees’ spring‑training facility and across a highway from the NFL stadium.
Background and Impact
Since their inception in 1998, the Rays have played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, except for a temporary move to the Yankees’ George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025 after hurricane damage forced a relocation. Their lease at Tropicana runs through at least the 2028 season, and the team returned there for the start of the current season.
Last year a $1.3 billion redevelopment proposal for a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana fell through, raising concerns about the franchise’s future. The recent approvals represent a decisive step toward a permanent, modern home for the Rays and a boost to the Tampa Bay region’s economy.
“Today’s vote represents an extraordinary milestone, not simply for the Rays or for a ballpark, but for the future of Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay region,” said Patrick Zalupski, who led the ownership group that purchased the team last September.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
