Rays’ $2.36B Ballpark Gets Final Approval in Tampa
Groundbreaking is targeted for later this year.
The Hillsborough County Commission officially approved the public funding plan for a $2.36 billion ballpark in Tampa on Friday, following a narrow 5-2 vote by the City of Tampa council on Thursday. The combined funding of up to $876 million from the two jurisdictions signals the end of a two-decade-long search for a new stadium, which involved an abandoned deal in St. Petersburg and a shift in ownership to a group led by Patrick Zalupski.
Groundbreaking is expected later this year at the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry Campus, with the planned opening in 2029. The new stadium will be situated near Tampa International Airport and the Buccaneers' Raymond James Stadium, benefiting from a mixed-use development inspired by The Battery in Atlanta. Rays CEO Ken Babby emphasized the regional celebration of the private finance and mixed-use neighborhood surrounding the new ballpark.
Despite the controversy surrounding taxpayer support for stadium projects, the final deal shifts more financial responsibility to the Rays, who will pay 63% of the construction costs, higher than what the Rangers and Braves paid for their respective stadiums. This approval could potentially accelerate Major League Baseball's expansion plans, which have been delayed by facility issues with the A's and Rays.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed interest in selecting two new markets for expansion before his tenure ends in early 2029.
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