For nearly three decades, the Tampa Bay Rays have been chasing a dream: a better ballpark. Now, with a new ownership group and a fresh proposal, that dream might finally be within reach, but not without its own set of challenges and unanswered questions.
It's been a long road for the Tampa Bay Rays since their very first game nearly 28 years ago in St. Petersburg's distinctive domed stadium. For most of that time, the team has been on the hunt for a stadium that's not just bigger, but significantly better. The core issue? Tropicana Field's location, which sits across Tampa Bay from the much more populous city of Tampa. This geographical disconnect has been a major factor contributing to the team's struggles with low attendance throughout much of their history.
When the team, originally known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, joined Major League Baseball as one of its newest expansion franchises alongside the Arizona Diamondbacks, they were the latest addition to the league. Over time, they dropped the "Devil" from their name and, despite operating as a small-market team with a modest payroll and often low attendance figures, have managed to carve out a path of considerable success.
A Stadium Saga: From Ybor City to a Hurricane's Fury
Every few years, the conversation about a new stadium to replace the aging Tropicana Field would resurface, only to fade away. There was a notable attempt to move to Tampa's Ybor City district, and another effort to remain in St. Petersburg that seemed promising until Hurricane Milton struck in 2024, dramatically shifting local priorities. In a significant development last March, the Rays officially withdrew from a $1.3 billion stadium deal they had with the city of St. Petersburg.
But here's where it gets interesting: stadium discussions are once again heating up! While the team's new ownership group is tight-lipped about the specifics, they've recently signed a nonbinding memorandum of agreement with Tampa's Hillsborough College. The plan is to build a multiuse facility on a sprawling 113-acre site along Dale Mabry Boulevard. This location is noteworthy, as it's directly across the street from Raymond James Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and in the vicinity of George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home for the New York Yankees.
The Mystery of the New Ballpark: What Do We Actually Know?
When it comes to the proposed new stadium, details are scarce. The team hasn't revealed much, including a crucial element: whether it will have a roof. The Rays have expressed a strong desire for a roof, which is practically a necessity in Florida to avoid significant game delays due to the frequent rain and to shield fans from the oppressive summer humidity.
Currently, the team is engaged in ongoing discussions with Tampa officials to finalize the deal. The agreement with Hillsborough College includes a six-month window for these negotiations. This comes after the Rays had been in talks with St. Petersburg and Pinellas County for a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field. However, as mentioned, they pulled out of that $1.3 billion project in March, citing the hurricane's impact and the likely cost increases due to delays.
The Fallout from Hurricane Milton: A Stadium's Demise
And this is the part most people miss: Hurricane Milton, which devastated Florida's Gulf Coast in October 2024, inflicted severe damage on Tropicana Field, literally ripping its roof to shreds. This catastrophic event forced the Rays to play their entire 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The stadium underwent a rapid 120-hour makeover after the Yankees' final spring training game to be ready for the Rays' opening day.
Meanwhile, repairs began at Tropicana Field, and the expectation is that the Rays will return to St. Petersburg for the 2026 season. Their current lease at the Trop extends through at least the 2028 baseball season.
The combined impact of the hurricane's destruction and the escalating costs for both repairs and new construction played a significant role in Stuart Sternberg's decision to abandon the proposed stadium deal with St. Petersburg last year and subsequently sell the team.
It's worth remembering that Tropicana Field, which opened in 1990 at an initial cost of $138 million, boasted what was then the world's largest cable-supported domed roof. This impressive structure was made of "translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass" and supported by an astonishing 180 miles of cables.
Attendance Woes and a Glimmer of Hope
Playing at Steinbrenner Field, with a capacity of 10,046, the Rays experienced 61 sellouts and drew a total of 786,750 fans. This figure is down from 1,337,739 in 2024. In 2024, the Rays ranked 28th out of 30 MLB teams in attendance, ahead of only the Miami Marlins and the Oakland Athletics. In 2025, they slipped to 29th, narrowly ahead of the Athletics, who are currently playing home games at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, California, while their new Las Vegas stadium is under construction, slated for a 2028 opening. The Athletics drew 768,464 fans in 2025.
The Vision for a New Era: What's Next?
So, what exactly do we know about the proposed stadium? Frankly, not much has been made public. There's no information yet on how much the team's ownership plans to invest, nor how much funding they are seeking from the city, county, or state.
The new ownership is aiming to replicate the success of environments like Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, which offers a vibrant mix of retail, dining, residential, and office spaces surrounding the stadium. Again, concrete details are still under wraps.
The memorandum of understanding with Hillsborough College also includes provisions for the development of new campus facilities for the college.
Rays CEO Ken Babby acknowledges that there's a considerable amount of work ahead. He stated, "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."
The team has also indicated that while there are parking and access challenges at the proposed site, they are committed to a comprehensive and collaborative process with Tampa, Hillsborough County, law enforcement, and planning experts to address these issues and prioritize mobility.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made it clear that the state will not contribute to financing the stadium. However, he has agreed to assist in relocating a juvenile justice facility from the property and suggested the state might help fund infrastructure like sewers and roads in the surrounding area.
A New Chapter: The Minds Behind the Rays
Who are the new custodians of the Rays? Last September, a group spearheaded by Florida-based real estate developer Patrick Zalupski finalized the acquisition of the team from former owner Stuart Sternberg. Forbes estimates Zalupski's net worth at a substantial $1.4 billion.
Zalupski, who also serves as the CEO of Dream Finders Homes Inc., is the team's control person. He shares co-chair duties with Bill Cosgrove, the CEO of Union Home Mortgage.
The team's new CEO is Ken Babby, who also heads Fast Forward Sports Group. This group owns the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (a Miami Marlins affiliate) and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks (a Cleveland Guardians farm team).
Stuart Sternberg took the reins from the founding owner, Vince Naimoli, in November 2005. He was instrumental in the rebranding of the team from the Devil Rays after the 2007 season.
Under Sternberg's tenure, the Rays achieved significant success, winning AL East titles in 2008, 2010, 2020, and 2021. They also made it to the World Series twice, falling to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
What do you think about the prospect of a new stadium in Tampa? Is it the right move for the Rays and their fans? Share your thoughts below!
