The Tampa Bay Rays are once again pushing forward in their long-running quest to secure a new stadium - and Tuesday marked a potentially significant step in that journey. The board of trustees at Hillsborough College approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the team, signaling a mutual interest in exploring a stadium and mixed-use development project on the college’s Dale Mabry campus.
Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t a finalized deal. It’s a non-binding agreement, more of a handshake than a contract.
But it does give the Rays a potential site to work with as they try to piece together a stadium plan that’s eluded them for years. With their lease at Tropicana Field set to expire after the 2028 season, the clock is officially ticking.
The Rays are aiming to have a new ballpark ready to go by Opening Day 2029 - a tight timeline when you factor in the complexities of funding, approvals, and construction.
This latest move shifts the focus squarely onto Tampa and Hillsborough County, after a previously announced stadium deal in St. Petersburg fell apart.
That plan, which would’ve kept the team in Pinellas County, collapsed when hurricane-related delays stalled the approval of key bonds. The Rays, facing rising costs due to the holdup, pushed for additional funding.
Negotiations soured, and the team pivoted to exploring other options - including this new potential partnership with Hillsborough College.
That pivot also came on the heels of a significant change in ownership. Longtime principal owner Stu Sternberg stepped away last year, with Patrick Zalupski now leading the franchise. Zalupski is taking a fresh swing at what’s become one of the most challenging off-field issues in MLB: finding a long-term home for the Rays in the Tampa Bay region.
But the road ahead is far from smooth. While the MOU with Hillsborough College helps the Rays zero in on a specific site, they still haven’t lined up any public funding agreements - and that’s going to be a critical piece of the puzzle. City and county officials have sent mixed signals about whether they’re willing to commit taxpayer dollars to the project, and without that backing, the plan could easily stall again.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, a vocal supporter of bringing the team to Tampa, didn’t shy away from raising the stakes. He suggested that if progress isn’t made on the Dale Mabry site, the Rays could start looking toward Orlando. That’s not just idle speculation - Orlando has been increasingly vocal about its interest in landing an MLB team, whether through relocation or future expansion.
Still, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and Rays leadership continue to insist that their focus remains on the Tampa area. For now, the ball is in the court of local officials - and the timeline is getting tighter by the day.
This latest development doesn’t guarantee a new stadium, but it does show the Rays are serious about staying in the region. Whether Tampa can finally deliver a deal that sticks - after years of false starts and shifting plans - remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: the next few months will be crucial for the future of baseball in Tampa Bay.