The Tampa Bay Rays are back in the spotlight - not for what’s happening on the field, but for what could soon rise just off Dale Mabry Highway. This week, the franchise made a major push in its long-running effort to build a new stadium in Tampa.
It wasn’t just a press release and a few renderings - it was a full-court media press, complete with a visit from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, and a series of high-level discussions with Hillsborough County officials. The message was clear: the Rays are serious about making Tampa their long-term home.
But beneath the optimism and polished visuals, three key questions still loom large - and they’ll shape whether this ambitious project ever becomes reality.
1. The Governor Showed Up - But What Does That Really Mean?
When a sitting governor steps in front of the cameras to support a stadium project, it’s going to grab attention. And DeSantis didn’t hold back, calling baseball “part of the DNA” of the Tampa Bay region and invoking the legacy of local baseball greats. It was a strong rhetorical endorsement - but it came without a check, a funding plan, or any firm commitments to help close what could be a billion-dollar funding gap.
That’s where the rubber meets the road. While some saw DeSantis’ support as a green light for public subsidies or political cover for local Republicans who might be asked to approve them, there’s little in his track record to suggest he’s keen on spending political capital on stadium financing.
Especially now, with Florida voters laser-focused on issues like insurance premiums and utility costs, the optics of funding a stadium for a billionaire owner could be a tough sell. The Rays’ success here may hinge less on political theater and more on whether the public is willing to buy into the long-term economic vision being pitched.
2. What’s the Real Cost to Taxpayers?
Hillsborough County commissioners took a step forward this week by unanimously voting to continue exploring the deal - a necessary move at this stage, but one that opens the door to a complex and potentially costly funding puzzle. Early estimates suggest that nearly a dozen different funding sources could be tapped to get this multibillion-dollar project off the ground.
One of the biggest pieces? The proposed transfer of Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus - currently valued at around $112 million.
That number reflects its use as an educational facility, but if the land is converted for commercial use, its value could quadruple. Add in a $50 million request from State Senator Danny Burgess to rebuild the college elsewhere, and you’re already approaching the half-billion-dollar mark - and that’s before shovels hit the dirt.
Commission Chair Ken Hagan, a longtime advocate for bringing the Rays to Tampa, acknowledged that there’s still “a long way to go” before a deal can be finalized. That’s not just about dollars and cents - it’s about timing, too.
As state lawmakers consider a property tax cut for the 2026 ballot, the political appetite for big-ticket public investments may be waning. The closer we get to November, the more those winds could shift.
3. What Happens to Hillsborough College - and the Neighborhood Around It?
A big part of the pitch for this stadium project is that it’s not just about baseball. It’s about revitalizing Tampa’s Drew Park neighborhood, modernizing Hillsborough College, and creating a vibrant mixed-use development that includes housing, retail, and restaurants. That’s the vision - but the details are still fuzzy.
Right now, no one knows what a redeveloped Hillsborough College would actually look like. Would the new campus be smaller?
How would it impact enrollment or student life? Could the college pursue its own redevelopment plan without tying itself to a stadium project?
These are critical questions, and so far, they don’t have clear answers.
It’s also worth noting that mixed-use developments aren’t exactly novel in Tampa anymore. From Water Street to Ybor City to Midtown, the city is already flush with similar projects.
Dropping another one in a congested area near an F-rated intersection on Dale Mabry Highway - and in the middle of a commercial warehouse district that plays a key role in the local economy - raises real logistical and economic concerns. The promise of transformation is exciting, but the execution will need to be airtight.
Where Things Stand Now
To their credit, the Tampa Sports Authority is digging into the numbers, and county officials are asking the right questions. There’s no final deal on the table yet, and no reason to rush to judgment. What’s clear is that this project - if it moves forward - will require a delicate balance of public and private investment, political will, and community support.
The Rays have made it known they want to stay in the Tampa Bay area, and there’s still time to craft a deal that works for the franchise and the region. But that deal can’t ignore the realities of public funding, the needs of the college, or the concerns of local voters. The energy is real, the stakes are high, and the next few months will be critical.
For now, it’s fair to hope for a win-win - a stadium that keeps the Rays in Tampa and helps revitalize a neighborhood - while also remembering that public dollars are finite, and priorities are many.