Tampa Bay Rays Propose New $2.3B Baseball Stadium

The team's vision includes a 31,000-seat stadium and mixed-use development in Hillsborough County.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 7:37am

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The Tampa Bay Rays are working on plans for a new $2.3 billion ballpark and surrounding mixed-use development in Hillsborough County, Florida. The proposed 31,000-seat stadium would serve as the team's long-term home, anchoring a larger neighborhood of shops, housing, and entertainment. The Rays aim to have the new facility ready by the 2029 season.

Why it matters

The Rays' proposal represents a major development effort that goes beyond just a new baseball stadium. The team wants to create a year-round hub of activity that strengthens the local community and supports everyday life in the Tampa area, not just on game days.

The details

The proposed stadium site is the 113-acre Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College. The Rays' vision includes retail, restaurants, housing, and entertainment spaces around the ballpark to make it an active district. The team plans to pay at least half the construction costs, with the rest potentially coming from county, city, and state funding mechanisms like a special tax district.

  • The Rays hope to have a deal in place and begin construction so the stadium can open by the 2029 season.
  • The team is currently playing at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, which will host home games through at least the 2026 season.

The players

Tampa Bay Rays

A Major League Baseball team that has been searching for a new stadium location to replace their current home at Tropicana Field.

Hillsborough College

A college in Hillsborough County, Florida that owns the 113-acre Dale Mabry campus proposed as the site for the new Rays stadium.

Florida Cabinet

The executive branch of the Florida state government that is considering transferring 22 acres of state-owned land to Hillsborough College for the stadium development.

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What’s next

The coming months will focus on finalizing agreements on land use, public funding, and design details. Community input sessions are planned, and local officials will continue discussions before any construction begins.

The takeaway

The Rays' proposal for a new $2.3 billion stadium and mixed-use development in Tampa represents an ambitious effort to create a year-round community hub that goes beyond just a new baseball facility. If approved, it could reshape the area around Hillsborough College and give the team a stable long-term home.