The Tampa Bay Rays have taken an early step in their next attempt at building a new stadium.
The Rays and Hillsborough College announced a non-binding memorandum of understanding that will see the two sides "pursue a partnership" to redevelop the school's Dale Mabry Campus in downtown Tampa.
A new baseball stadium will be included as part of the development, along with other mixed-use developments and improvements to the campus. The campus is roughly 30 kilometres from the team's current home, Tropicana Field.
“We are encouraged to take this early but very important step forward in bringing a shared and innovative concept to life for all of Tampa Bay. We are grateful for today’s unanimous vote, which reflects what’s possible when we all listen, learn and work together to realize a vision that will make our community better," Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a statement. "Our partnership with Hillsborough College creates meaningful opportunities for students through education, workforce development, and real-world learning, while strengthening the connection between the team and the community we call home."
The Rays have been exploring sites for a new home for years, with previous ownership going far down the road on a potential project in an area known as the Historic Gas Plant District in St. Petersburg before it was killed in early 2025.
The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since their entry into MLB in 1998. The stadium was heavily damaged in October of 2024 by Hurricane Milton, and the Rays played home games at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training facility for the New York Yankees, in 2025. The team is expected to return to Tropicana Field in 2026.
The Rays were sold to a group led by Jacksonville-based developer Patrick Zalupski in a deal that closed last September.
