The Hillsborough County Commission approved a $796 million contribution toward a mixed-use entertainment district featuring a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, following the Tampa City Council’s approval of $80 million the previous day. The $2.3 billion project will construct a 31,000-seat ballpark near Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with an expected opening in 2029.
The Rays organization will contribute at least $1.3 billion toward the development, with additional funding of $30 million coming from federal disaster recovery resources. The team reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to utilize campus property for the stadium and entertainment district, along with renovations to certain college buildings. The proposed stadium site is adjacent to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility.
Rays CEO Ken Babby stated that the partnership secures Major League Baseball’s long-term presence in the Tampa Bay area. Team owner Patrick Zalupski characterized the financing approval as a significant achievement for the region. The Rays have occupied Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg since the franchise’s establishment in 1998, though the team temporarily relocated to the Yankees’ spring training facility in 2025 following hurricane damage and has since returned to their original home venue.
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