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With potential Tampa site, the Rays’ ‘momentum is real and growing’
“I think that would be very exciting,” said DeSantis of the possibility of a Rays stadium in Tampa.
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted Tuesday to grant a 22-acre parcel of state-owned land to Hillsborough College for a potential new ballpark to house the Tampa Bay Rays.
Cabinet members Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson seconded approval of the deal.
“For Hillsborough College to potentially do a deal that would be beneficial to them and for the overall economy and community with the Rays and all the stuff that would come with that,” DeSantis said, “I think that would be very exciting.”
In a prepared statement, the Rays thanked DeSantis: “The support by Governor DeSantis and the Cabinet today underlines our belief in the power of this generational project, and the many lasting benefits it will deliver. Our momentum is real and growing …”
Allotting land to Hillsborough echoes previous comments DeSantis made last January during a press conference in Pinellas Park, when he noted: “On the state level, we don’t, from our coffers, finance the stadium,” he said. “That’s always been our policy.”
While not a direct financial contribution, granting the land strengthens the tentative, non-binding agreement the Rays struck with Hillsborough College. Either party may still walk away. Still, the move signals that momentum for a finalized deal is building.
Through what’s essentially a community benefits agreement, the state reserves the right to reclaim the land if development benchmarks are not met within five years of the transfer.
DeSantis has repeatedly emphasized that his primary concern is keeping the team in Florida. He has floated alternative markets such as Orlando, citing its entertainment infrastructure, while also expressing confidence that baseball can thrive in Tampa Bay.
“I have no doubt. You have a reservoir, there are millions of people, and a high affinity for baseball,” he said in January.
Now, with additional acreage secured, the responsibility shifts to Hillsborough College leadership to identify funding sources for the proposed ballpark – a project that would also require a significant reimagining of the Dale Mabry campus’s 113 acres.
Cost estimates for the new location begin around $2 billion, with some projections climbing higher. By comparison, Tropicana Field dome repairs were estimated at roughly $60 million and were completed under budget, though through a mix of funding, including monies from insurance and FEMA.
The Rays are currently slated to continue playing at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg through 2028. The proposed Hillsborough ballpark has been discussed with a 2029 completion target.
Alan DeLisle
February 27, 2026at8:58 am
Welch surrendered to the old Rays ownership and negotiated the worst deal in MLB history for a city. He chose the Rays over the City. Kriseman did the exact opposite.
Welch was saved by the hurricane, or taxpayers would have been on the hook for 30 year. Now Welch is trying to do exactly what Kriseman was doing six years ago but it’s too late. He has lost the confidence of city residents and the Council, and rightly so.
Steven Sullivan
February 27, 2026at1:02 pm
No you wanted Welch to pursue a deal the Ray’s had already rejected. Make “YOU” make sense! Either way it didn’t get done because of the Ray’s 100%. So, stop the blaming because you disagree with the current administration. He’s Mayor and that’s it until he isn’t anymore. Just keep this in mind- he has goodwill across. The City and the support of the black and minority community of St.Pete. As long as they show up at the polls he wins. History has shown that community determines the outcome of the mayoral election.
Alan DeLisle
February 26, 2026at7:16 am
This will get done. It’s what happens when you have real leadership from the Rays and other partners.
It’s a shame that St Pete is stuck with Welch. Nothing will happen in the short term with the Trop. Even if Welch selects a developer, the Council has made it clear they reject the process. Here St Pete goes again.
Steven Sullivan
February 26, 2026at12:58 pm
Alan you finally got it right. Real leadership from the Ray’s. So why try and blame Mayor Welch at this time? The Kriseman administration whom you were part of had 8yrs to get the Ray’s to agree to a deal and it never happened. The Welch administration took it further than you guys by getting it in front of the Pinellas County Commisson for a vote albeit the prior Ray’s ownership showed their true intent which was to sell the team
Michael Cronin
February 25, 2026at4:31 pm
There is a longgggggggggg way to go here. The Times did a great piece on how Hillsborough has to find $57M per year for 30 years to finance the debt that they would need to take on to make this happen. And that’s not taking into account the Bucs renovation number that’s likely to come in within a month at $800M-1B.