The Tampa Bay Rays have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hillsborough College to redevelop the college’s 113-acre Dale Mabry campus to become a new baseball stadium and mixed-use development.
MLB.com reports the campus is south of George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ Spring Training facility in Tampa that the Rays are using as a temporary home while their home venue at Tropicana Field is undergoing repairs from hurricane damage. The team is scheduled to return to Tropicana Field on April 6.
The MOU also includes the creation of new facilities for Hillsborough College, which has 180 days to negotiate and approve a final agreement with the team. The Rays would lease the campus for 99 years and be responsible for building the mixed-use development that could include lodging, retail, multifamily, commercial, and healthcare properties.
“There’s still great work ahead of us to be able to bring this to reality,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a press conference after the college’s board of trustees unanimously voted to approve the MOU. “But what I can say with certainty is that we believe with conviction that we’re going to be able to create a world-class work-live-learn-play development here in Tampa Bay, and we’re very, very encouraged and pleased by today’s outcome.”
Details on the dimensions and budget for the new stadium were not disclosed. The Rays have been stymied in their efforts to move out of Tropicana Field, with plans for a new stadium in neighboring St. Petersburg falling through over disagreements on public funding.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis voices his support of the Hillsborough College campus redevelopment, telling reporters at a press conference, “Baseball can succeed in the Tampa Bay area, I have no doubt it can succeed.”
