Florida Approves Land Transfer for Rays Ballpark in Tampa

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet greenlight 22-acre plot for new stadium on Hillsborough College campus.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 7:06pm

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The Florida Cabinet and Gov. Ron DeSantis have agreed to give Hillsborough College a 22-acre plot of state land in Tampa to use for a proposed ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays ownership entered a memorandum of understanding last month to build a stadium and mixed-use entertainment district on the college campus, as well as renovate some of the college's buildings.

Why it matters

This land transfer is a significant step forward for the Rays' efforts to build a new stadium and entertainment district in the Tampa Bay area, after a previous $1.3 billion redevelopment deal for a new ballpark adjacent to their current home at Tropicana Field fell through last year. The new stadium could help secure the Rays' long-term future in the region.

The details

The state holds the right to take back the land if the 'components' of the new stadium do not exist within five years of the land transfer. The Rays have said they would pay a minimum of 50% of the cost of the new ballpark, with the remainder of the funds coming from the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County. The team has played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg since taking the field in 1998, except for moving home games to the Yankees' Steinbrenner Field in 2025 following hurricane damage at the Trop.

  • The Florida Cabinet and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the land transfer on February 24, 2026.
  • The Rays entered a memorandum of understanding to build the stadium and entertainment district last month.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The Governor of Florida who approved the land transfer for the Rays' new stadium.

Ken Babby

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rob Manfred

The Commissioner of Major League Baseball who held a news conference with DeSantis in Tampa to support the Rays stadium effort.

Patrick Zalupski

The owner of the Tampa Bay Rays, who purchased the team in September.

Hillsborough College

The college that will receive the 22-acre plot of land from the state to use for the Rays' proposed ballpark and mixed-use development.

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What they’re saying

“This is undoubtedly a big moment for Tampa Bay, and the Rays are fully in this moment to bring this vision to life, and serve our region for generations to come.”

— Ken Babby, Chief Executive Officer, Tampa Bay Rays

“Earlier this month, DeSantis and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred held a news conference in Tampa to support the Rays stadium effort.”

— Rob Manfred, Commissioner, Major League Baseball (timesunion.com)

What’s next

The Rays have said they hope to have the stadium built within three years. The state holds the right to take back the land if the 'components' of the new stadium do not exist within five years of the land transfer.

The takeaway

This land transfer represents a significant milestone in the Rays' efforts to build a new stadium and entertainment district in the Tampa Bay area, after previous plans fell through. The new stadium could help secure the team's long-term future in the region, but the project still faces hurdles in terms of funding and timelines.