Rays Secure Deal for New Stadium in Tampa Bay: What to Expect

Rays Secure Deal for New Stadium in Tampa Bay: What to Expect

The Tampa Bay Rays have been searching for a new stadium for years due to low attendance at Tropicana Field. Talks of a new stadium have come and gone, with various proposals falling through. The team recently signed an agreement with Hillsborough College to build a multiuse facility on a 113-acre site in Tampa. Details about the new stadium, including whether it will have a roof, are still scarce, but negotiations are ongoing.

Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field in 2024, leading the Rays to play at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa for the 2025 season. Repairs are underway at the Trop, and the team is expected to return for the 2026 season. The destruction caused by the hurricane and rising costs of repairs contributed to the team pulling out of a proposed stadium deal with St. Petersburg.

The proposed stadium's specifics are not yet public, including the financial contributions from the team's ownership and the city, county, and state. The new owners aim to create a development similar to Truist Park in Atlanta, with shops, dining, living, and work spaces outside the stadium. The agreement with Hillsborough College also includes new campus facilities for the college.

The Rays' new owners, led by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski, finalized the purchase of the team from former owner Stuart Sternberg. Zalupski, with a net worth of $1.4 billion, is the team's control person, while Ken Babby serves as the new CEO. The team is optimistic about creating a world-class development in Tampa Bay, but details about the stadium and financing remain to be seen.