For nearly three decades, the Tampa Bay Rays have been on a quest for a better ballpark, and the latest chapter is unfolding in Tampa! For almost 28 years, since their very first game in St. Petersburg's domed stadium, the Tampa Bay Rays have been seeking a more advantageous situation. The original location of Tropicana Field, situated across Tampa Bay from the much more populous Tampa area, has been a significant factor in the team's historically low attendance.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as they were initially known, joined Major League Baseball as one of its newest expansion teams, alongside the Arizona Diamondbacks. Over time, they dropped the 'Devil' from their name and, despite operating as a small-market team with a modest payroll and struggling attendance, they've managed to build a remarkably successful on-field history.
Every so often, discussions about a new stadium to replace the aging Tropicana Field would emerge, only to fizzle out. These attempts included a proposal to relocate to Tampa's Ybor City district and an effort to stay in St. Petersburg that seemed promising until Hurricane Milton in 2024 dramatically altered local priorities. In a significant turn of events, the Rays withdrew from a $1.3 billion stadium deal with St. Petersburg last March.
Now, stadium discussions are back in full swing, though the team, under a new ownership group with fresh aspirations, has released very few details.
But here's where it gets interesting... Last week, the Rays inked a nonbinding memorandum of agreement with Tampa's Hillsborough College. The plan is to construct a multiuse facility on an expansive 113-acre site along Dale Mabry Boulevard. This prime location is directly across the street from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in close proximity to George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.
When Will This New Stadium Be Built?
Details about the proposed stadium are scarce, including a crucial element: whether it will feature a roof. The team has expressed a strong desire for a roof, which is practically a necessity in Florida to avoid lengthy rain delays during the notorious rainy season and to shield fans from the oppressive summer humidity.
Discussions with Tampa officials are ongoing to finalize the deal. The agreement with Hillsborough College provides a six-month window for negotiations.
Previously, the Rays had been in talks with St. Petersburg and Pinellas County for a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field. However, the team pulled out of that $1.3 billion project in March, citing the impact of the hurricane and anticipated cost increases due to delays.
What Happened to Tropicana Field?
Hurricane Milton, which struck Florida's Gulf Coast in October 2024, caused significant damage, literally ripping the roof of Tropicana Field. This severe damage necessitated the Rays playing their entire 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The stadium underwent a rapid 120-hour renovation after the Yankees' final spring training game to be ready for the Rays' opening day.
Meanwhile, repairs commenced at the Trop, and the team is expected to return to St. Petersburg for the 2026 season. The Rays are currently under lease at Tropicana Field through at least the 2028 baseball season.
The extensive damage from the hurricane, coupled with escalating costs for both repairs and new construction, played a role in Stuart Sternberg's decision to abandon the proposed stadium deal with St. Petersburg last year and subsequently sell the team.
Originally opened in 1990 at a cost of $138 million, Tropicana Field boasted what was then the world's largest cable-supported domed roof, constructed from "translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass" and supported by an astonishing 180 miles of cables.
While playing at Steinbrenner Field, which has a seating capacity of 10,046, the Rays achieved 61 sellouts and drew a total of 786,750 fans. This attendance figure was a decrease from the 1,337,739 fans in 2024, placing them 28th among MLB teams, ahead of only the Miami Marlins and Oakland Athletics. In 2025, the Rays ranked 29th in attendance, just edging out the Athletics, who are currently playing home games in a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, California, while their new Las Vegas stadium is under construction and expected to open in 2028. The Athletics drew 768,464 fans in 2025.
What Do We Know About the Proposed Stadium?
Frankly, not much has been revealed yet. The team's ownership group has not disclosed how much capital they intend to contribute, nor how much funding they are seeking from the city, county, and state.
And this is the part most people miss... The new Rays ownership envisions a stadium experience akin to Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. This would involve a vibrant mixed-use development surrounding the stadium, incorporating shops, dining, residential spaces, and work areas. However, as mentioned, concrete details remain scarce.
The memorandum of understanding with Hillsborough College also stipulates the creation of new campus facilities for the college.
Rays CEO Ken Babby acknowledges that there's still a significant amount of work ahead. "What I can say with certainty is that we believe with conviction that we’re going to be able to create a world-class work-live-learn-play development here in Tampa Bay, and we’re very, very encouraged and pleased by today’s outcome," Babby stated.
The team has also indicated that while there are existing parking and access challenges at the proposed site, they are committed to a comprehensive and collaborative approach with Tampa, Hillsborough County, local law enforcement, and planning experts to address these issues, with a strong focus on parking and overall mobility.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stated that the state will not provide direct financing for the stadium. However, he has agreed to assist in facilitating the relocation of a juvenile justice facility on the property and indicated that state assistance might be available for infrastructure improvements like sewers and roads in the surrounding area.
Who Are the New Owners of the Rays?
In September of last year, a group led by Florida-based real estate developer Patrick Zalupski finalized the acquisition of the team from former owner Stuart Sternberg. Zalupski's estimated net worth is $1.4 billion.
Zalupski, who is the CEO of Jacksonville-based Dream Finders Homes Inc., is the team's control person. He shares co-chair responsibilities with Bill Cosgrove, the CEO of Union Home Mortgage in Ohio.
The team's new CEO is Ken Babby. Babby also heads Fast Forward Sports Group, which owns the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (a Miami Marlins affiliate) and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks (a Cleveland Guardians farm team).
Stuart Sternberg took the helm of the team from its founding owner, Vince Naimoli, in November 2005. He was instrumental in the rebranding of the team from the Devil Rays after the 2007 season.
The Rays have achieved significant success on the field, winning AL East titles in 2008, 2010, 2020, and 2021. They also reached the World Series twice, falling to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
Now, let's open this up for discussion! Is a multiuse development around a stadium the key to revitalizing baseball attendance in a market like Tampa Bay, or is it just another expensive endeavor? What are your thoughts on the team's long journey to find a new home, and what do you think the biggest challenges will be for this new ownership group? Share your opinions in the comments below!
