Tampa officials have approved a $2.3 billion plan to build a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark and surrounding mixed-use district, bringing the franchise closer to a permanent home in Hillsborough County. The project combines public tax funding with private investment and still requires a vote by Hillsborough County commissioners.
Key takeaways
Tampa’s City Council approved the agreement in a 4-3 vote, advancing one of the region’s largest proposed sports and redevelopment projects.
- The ballpark and surrounding district are expected to cost $2.3 billion.
- About $967 million would come from public tax funding.
- Hillsborough County commissioners are scheduled to consider the project next.
- The Rays hope to complete the stadium within three years.
A new home near major sports venues
The proposed stadium would be built through an agreement involving the Rays and Hillsborough College. The larger development would include a mixed-use entertainment district and renovations to some college facilities.
The site is near the New York Yankees’ spring training complex and across a highway from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Supporters say the location could create a major sports and entertainment hub in Tampa.
Public and private money
The project’s estimated price tag includes $967 million in tax funding, with the remainder expected to come from private investment and other project resources. Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby said the team’s private funding commitment would help secure Major League Baseball’s future in the Tampa Bay region.
The public contribution is likely to remain a central issue as county officials review the agreement. Their decision will determine whether the proposal can proceed to the next stages of financing, design and construction.
Rays’ uncertain stadium history
The Rays have played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg since their inaugural 1998 season, but the team temporarily moved home games to the Yankees’ George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025 after hurricane damage affected the Trop. The team returned to Tropicana Field at the start of the current season.
The Rays’ lease at the St. Petersburg facility runs through at least the 2028 season. A separate $1.3 billion proposal to build a ballpark next to the Tropicana Field site collapsed last year, renewing questions about the franchise’s long-term location.
What comes next
Friday’s Hillsborough County Commission vote represents the next major test for the plan. If approved, the project would advance into detailed planning and construction preparations, with the Rays targeting completion in approximately three years.
The proposal could reshape the area around Hillsborough College while giving the Rays a new stadium and a broader development platform. Its future now depends on county approval and the project’s ability to meet its public financing and construction commitments.