The Tampa Bay Rays finally caught a break after years of stadium nightmares in St. Petersburg.
Hillsborough College trustees just handed the team something they desperately needed.
And the Tampa Bay Rays took one massive step toward escaping the Tropicana Field disaster for good.
Hillsborough College votes to begin stadium negotiations with Rays
The Hillsborough College District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The deal clears the way for negotiations on building a new stadium on the college's 113-acre Dale Mabry campus in Tampa.
The campus sits directly across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium and next to George M. Steinbrenner Field where the Yankees train every spring.
Rays CEO Ken Babby told trustees the project would transform the area into what he's calling "Innovation Edge" featuring the college's new facilities.
The memorandum describes a mixed-use development that would include residential, commercial, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment alongside the stadium.
Babby claimed the project could deliver billions of dollars in economic impact to the region.
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The memorandum gives both sides 180 days to hammer out binding agreements but doesn't commit the college to anything and can be terminated at any time.
The college would keep a portion of the southwest corner for new academic facilities while the Rays would lease the rest of the property for at least 99 years.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis backs the stadium plan
Governor Ron DeSantis publicly endorsed the proposal ahead of Tuesday's board meeting.
DeSantis met with Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater about the stadium concept and said it could benefit both the college and the region.
"It could be very good for HCC, and I've met with the President about it. I think he's excited about the possibility," DeSantis explained during a news conference in Pinellas Park. "Obviously, they've got to iron out details. But basically, we're supportive of them pursuing that partnership because I think it could be good for them. I think it could be good for the state. But I definitely think it could be really good for this region."
DeSantis pointed to the success of the Tampa Bay Lightning under previous owner Jeff Vinik as proof that professional sports can thrive in Tampa with the right ownership.
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The Governor said the new Rays ownership group led by Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski is committed to building a winning organization.
DeSantis acknowledged that the area around Raymond James Stadium needs revitalization.
The Governor made clear the state won't finance the stadium itself but could help with infrastructure like roads and sewers to support the development.
DeSantis noted that Florida has helped facilitate similar projects before, including fast-tracking an Interstate 75 exit for a Buc-ee's store in Ocala.
"I just want to see the team succeed in Florida, first and foremost, as the governor of the state, I don't want to lose the team from the state," DeSantis said.
He warned that other Florida cities want the Rays if Tampa Bay can't make it work, specifically mentioning Orlando where Disney would love to put a stadium at Wide World of Sports and Universal could build one near their parks.
DeSantis said Tampa Bay deserves the first chance to make baseball work since the franchise was born there.
The Rays escaped years of failed stadium deals in St. Petersburg
The Rays have been trying to escape Tropicana Field for nearly two decades.
The team spent years negotiating with St. Petersburg and Pinellas County on a new $1.3 billion stadium deal at the Tropicana Field site.
City and county officials approved the deal in 2024 that included $600 million in public funding.
Hurricane Milton destroyed Tropicana Field's roof in October 2024 and caused $55 million in damage.
The storm complicated the stadium negotiations as officials argued over whether to repair the Trop or move forward with the new stadium.
Pinellas County delayed approving bonds for the new stadium after the hurricane damage, which caused the Rays to suspend work on the project.
Former owner Stuart Sternberg blamed the county's 30-day delay for "likely killing the new stadium deal."
The Rays officially walked away from the St. Petersburg deal in March 2025.
St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously in July 2025 to terminate the failed stadium agreement.
That cleared the way for the Rays' new ownership group to pursue other locations in the Tampa Bay area.
The new owners led by Zalupski officially took control of the team in September 2025 after buying it for approximately $1.7 billion.
Zalupski is the founder and CEO of Dream Finders Homes, a Fortune 1000 homebuilder based in Jacksonville.
Ken Babby, who previously owned the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp minor league team, became CEO of the Rays and is overseeing the day-to-day business operations.
The ownership group set Opening Day of the 2029 season as their target for a new stadium.
They've cited The Battery Atlanta development around the Braves' Truist Park as their model for generating year-round revenue beyond just baseball games.
The Hillsborough College site would allow the Rays to build exactly that type of mixed-use development on a property large enough to support it.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said the city has been in ongoing discussions with the Rays about long-term stadium options including the Hillsborough College site.
Any deal would require coordination between the city of Tampa, Hillsborough County, the college, and the team.
But it represents the first tangible progress the Rays have made on a stadium deal since the St. Petersburg plans collapsed.
After two decades of failed negotiations across the bay in St. Petersburg, the Rays finally have a willing partner in Hillsborough College and support from state and local officials.
The question now is whether they can turn this memorandum into a binding agreement and actually break ground on a stadium before another hurricane or political fight derails the project.
Sources:
- Jesse Mendoza, "Hillsborough College Trustees OK first step in Tampa Bay Rays stadium talks," Florida Politics, January 20, 2026.
- Colleen Wright, "Gov. Ron DeSantis supports Rays, Hillsborough College stadium plan," Tampa Bay Times, January 20, 2026.
- Carl Lisciandrello, "DeSantis says he favors a Rays stadium on the Hillsborough College property," WUSF, January 20, 2026.
- Marc Topkin, "Rays enter non-binding agreement to pursue stadium plan at Hillsborough College," MLB.com, January 20, 2026.
- Various Authors, "How the Rays Lost Their New Stadium Deal: A Timeline," DRaysBay, November 22, 2024.
