Florida Construction News staff writer
Fireworks lit up downtown Tampa as the city celebrated votes approving agreements to build a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark and an $8 billion mixed-use development on Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus.
The celebration followed votes by the Hillsborough County Commission and Tampa City Council in favour of agreements securing the Rays’ future in Tampa and advancing plans for their new ballpark.
“Today’s vote makes it official. The Rays are staying in Tampa, and we are ready to build their future home,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said.
“I want to thank the County Commission for their partnership and for seeing what this agreement means for our region, jobs, investment, and a destination our entire community can be proud of.
“Tampa fought for this opportunity, and Tampa is going to deliver.”
Blue and yellow lights, the Rays’ colours, also illuminated Old City Hall and other city landmarks as part of the celebration.
The proposed ballpark complex will be located at the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and West Tampa Bay Boulevard on Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, near Raymond James Stadium and Tampa International Airport.
Hillsborough County commissioners voted 5-2 on Aug. 28 to approve the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry Campus Ballpark project. The vote followed several months of negotiations involving Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the Rays and the Tampa Sports Authority, with Hillsborough College and the state of Florida also involved in discussions.
The ballpark is expected to anchor an approximately $8 billion private-sector development that would combine residential, commercial and educational uses with the stadium, creating what county officials have described as a live-work-play-learn district.
“This will be the largest, most transformative development in Hillsborough County history and the nation’s first live-work-play-learn district anchored by an MLB ballpark,” Hillsborough County Commission Chair Ken Hagan said.
Additional agreements remain pending before the Hillsborough County Commission, including a Ballpark License & Use Agreement, Community Benefits Agreement and Construction Funds Trust Agreement.
The Rays are targeting April 2029 for the opening of the new ballpark.
