TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Rays released a proposed Community Benefits and Legacy Plan tied to the Forever Home ballpark partnership with Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa, outlining commitments on affordable housing, anti-displacement protections, local hiring, transportation improvements and youth programming.
The proposed plan would direct 65% of benefits to Hillsborough County and 35% to the City of Tampa, with annual planning and public reporting to track where programs operate and who they serve. It covers affordable and attainable housing initiatives outside the ballpark district, home-repair and tenant-stability efforts for nearby neighborhoods, workforce development, and expanded access for minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
“A constant and important theme over the past year has been that the Forever Home must be about more than baseball,” said Tampa Bay Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby. “This Community Benefits and Legacy Plan, as proposed, will positively impact our entire region above and beyond the many benefits that will be produced by the ballpark, the reimagined Hillsborough College campus, and privately financed mixed-use district.”
Babby said the plan was driven by the Rays and Hillsborough County with significant support from the City of Tampa. “In the end, this proposal is more than a plan or agreement. It’s a lasting investment and commitment to our region that the Tampa Bay Rays are proud to make, and we now look forward to continued community engagement to ensure this proposal can become reality and make a meaningful difference for a long time to come,” he said.
The transportation component commits the Rays to work with Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the State of Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation, HART and other partners to improve access to the ballpark district. That includes coordination around roadway, signal, pedestrian, bicycle, safety and first/last-mile planning, as well as efforts to pursue available state and federal transportation funding.
Workforce-development commitments would connect residents, students, returning citizens and individuals facing barriers to employment with career pathways in sports, hospitality, construction, technology, media and business operations. The plan also expands existing Rays programs including youth sports, community field improvements, Reading with the Rays literacy initiatives, affordable and complimentary ticket access for families and community organizations, and veterans and disabled veterans engagement.
To ensure accountability, the Rays would establish a Community Benefits Advisory Committee and publish a Community Report Card tracking progress against final commitments. The proposed plan remains subject to County and City feedback, with final obligations, implementation schedules and enforceable terms to be governed by definitive documents still under negotiation.