With county commissioners’ approval, Rays get 1 step closer to new stadium

The Tampa Bay Rays moved one step closer to a new stadium Friday, as Hillsborough County Commissioners approved plans, in a 5-2 vote, for a long-awaited park at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus.

The county vote, one of the final major hurdles in securing the Rays’ new long-term home, came one day after Tampa’s city council voted 4-3 in favor of the stadium Wednesday.

With approval from the county and city, the Rays can now begin the bond and funding validation process before breaking ground on the new ballpark.

The stadium, which is planned to be ready for Opening Day 2029, is projected to cost just under $2.4 billion. The city agreed to provide $80 million to the Rays. The county agreed to provide $796 million. The club is reportedly expected to cover approximately $1.37 billion, plus all cost overruns.

The Rays’ quest for a new stadium has spanned decades, various potential sites and multiple ownership groups. Stu Sternberg, the team’s second owner, tried for many years to build a ballpark before selling the team to a group led by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski last year.

Gaining the city’s approval was an arduous process for the club. The council narrowly agreed with the team on a non-binding memorandum of understanding in May, and has pushed for changes in the deal since, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

The Rays had previously asked Tampa for $180 million, and the team is now covering the $100 million difference.

“The opportunity before us is about much more than a ballpark,” Tampa mayor Jane Castor said in a news release Wednesday, following the city vote. “It’s about jobs, economic development, new investment, and creating a destination that will generate benefits throughout Hillsborough County for decades to come.”

Economists have repeatedly found in academic studies that taxpayer subsidies for stadiums deliver little to no economic gain for the public.

Major League Baseball must provide a $150 million loan for the project, according to the stadium development and funding agreement.

The team currently plays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., about 21 miles from the site of the planned ballpark on Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus in Tampa, Fla. A mixed-use development is to be built around the stadium, as is common for new ballpark construction.

The Rays have always struggled to draw fans and consistently have low payrolls, but they have also had notable on-field success for a small-market team. They have yet to win a World Series, however, since arriving as an expansion team in 1998.

A new stadium for the Rays could open the doors to MLB’s plans for further expansion. League commissioner Rob Manfred has said over the years that he wants to grow the number of clubs in the league by two to 32, but that the Rays and the Athletics first need to find new, permanent homes.

The A’s, who currently play in Sacramento, Calif., after leaving their longtime home in Oakland following the 2024 season, are building a stadium in Las Vegas that’s scheduled to open in 2028. New MLB teams would likely not begin play until some time in the next decade, however, after their host cities are chosen.