The Tampa Bay Rays are officially under new ownership, and their top priority is as big as it gets: securing a new home. After years of stadium limbo, the team is eyeing a bold new chapter-one that could reshape not just the Rays’ future, but the entire landscape of Major League Baseball in Florida.
A New Vision in the Works
The Rays have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Hillsborough College, targeting the school’s Dale Mabry campus as the potential site for their next ballpark. The plan? A massive 113-acre, mixed-use development that would include a new stadium and a surrounding entertainment district-think something in the mold of The Battery in Atlanta.
The price tag? Roughly $2.3 billion for the stadium alone.
The Rays have said they’re willing to cover about half of that, while asking for public funds to pick up the rest. Importantly, the team would also be on the hook for cost overruns, as well as long-term repairs and maintenance.
But that’s just the stadium. The broader development could see the Rays investing between $8 and $10 billion into the surrounding area, signaling a long-term commitment that goes well beyond baseball.
Political Pressure and Public Pushback
Naturally, when a team asks for public money, the political temperature rises. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis didn’t mince words this week, referencing Orlando as a city ready to pounce if the deal falls through. “You know Orlando wants this,” he said, making it clear that Tampa’s window of opportunity might not stay open forever.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred took a more measured tone but echoed the urgency. “It’s time to call the question here,” he said.
“There are alternatives in Florida.” Manfred has made it clear that MLB expansion-his stated goal before his contract expires in 2029-won’t move forward until the Rays and A’s both have long-term stadium solutions in place.
The situation is starting to feel familiar. Just ask A’s fans in Oakland, who watched their team pack up for Las Vegas after years of failed stadium negotiations.
And while not every relocation threat ends in a moving truck, the leverage game is part of the playbook. Royals owner John Sherman recently admitted he was advised to float the idea of leaving Kansas City to sway public opinion on a stadium funding vote.
A History of Stadium Struggles
This isn’t the first time the Rays have tried to lock in a new home. Former owner Stu Sternberg had previously reached an agreement with the city of St.
Petersburg and Pinellas County to build a new stadium on the current Tropicana Field site. That deal followed a similar 50/50 public-private funding model, but at a much lower cost-around $1.3 billion.
But that plan unraveled after Tropicana Field suffered hurricane damage in late 2024, leading to disagreements over how to proceed. The strain between Sternberg and local officials became too much to overcome, and ultimately, he sold the team to a new ownership group led by Patrick Zalupski.
Now, Zalupski and company are working against the clock. The Rays were forced to play the 2025 season in a minor league park while repairs were made to The Trop.
It’s expected to be ready for Opening Day 2026, but the team’s lease only runs through 2028. That gives the new ownership group just three years to get a deal done, break ground, and build a ballpark-a tall order, especially with local officials still wary of using public funds.
The Funding Puzzle
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has made it clear she’s not in favor of using city money for a stadium. Meanwhile, Hillsborough County commissioners voted unanimously to begin negotiations with the Rays, but several voiced serious concerns about taxpayer dollars being used.
One major sticking point? The Community Investment Tax (CIT).
Commissioner Joshua Wostal was blunt in his opposition: “We promised everyone on the public record that the CIT numbers would be ineligible,” he said. “We have not even begun to collect that tax, and here is a suggestion that we already deceive the taxpayers that we made a promise to no less than two years ago.”
But for supporters of the deal, like Commissioner Ken Hagan, the CIT is essential. “This agreement does not happen without the CIT,” he said. “It just doesn’t.”
The Rays have floated alternative funding sources, including a tourist tax on short-term rentals and hotel stays, a property tax assessment on the stadium district, a fee on nearby hotel bills, and infrastructure bonds issued through a community development district. But whether those streams can generate enough support-or dollars-remains to be seen.
What’s Next?
The current agreement gives Hillsborough College an exclusive 180-day window to negotiate with the Rays. That clock is already ticking. If no deal is reached within that timeframe, the team could pivot elsewhere, and the relocation chatter will only grow louder.
This is a pivotal moment for the Rays-not just in terms of where they’ll play, but how they’ll be perceived moving forward. A successful stadium deal in Tampa could anchor the franchise for decades and potentially spark a renaissance for baseball in Central Florida. But if the talks stall, the specter of relocation becomes more than just a bargaining chip-it becomes a very real possibility.
The Rays have made their pitch. Now it’s up to local officials, community leaders, and ultimately, the fans, to decide whether Tampa is ready to step up to the plate.