TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Rays released new renderings of their proposed $2.3 billion ballpark showing the roughly 30,000-seat facility hosting concerts, college graduations, volleyball tournaments and wrestling championships — a pitch to local officials that the project would function as far more than a baseball stadium.
Rays chief executive officer Ken Babby framed the ballpark, branded the “Forever Home,” as an economic catalyst for the region. “We have said from the beginning that our new ballpark is about more than baseball,” Babby said in a statement. “A Forever Home ballpark for the Rays is about creating an economic engine for our region through a steady and vast array of special events that will drive hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic, parking revenue, airport activity and transit usage.”
“In doing so, we create thousands of jobs across hospitality, entertainment, security, operations, and support services,” Babby added. “It’s the definition of a generational opportunity for our region.”
The renderings arrive as the club, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County have yet to reach a funding agreement. The Tampa City Council last week removed a discussion and possible vote on the stadium proposal from its Aug. 20 agenda. Babby acknowledged the setback but cast it as constructive. “We’ve had a great week, and that even includes last night at Tampa City Council when a vote that didn’t go our way actually helped to underline where we need to go, and what we need to do to bring this project to reality,” Babby wrote, adding that Councilperson Bill Carlson “emphasized the importance of connecting with each member of the council, to better hear the views of their constituents.”
The club plans to build the ballpark and a mixed-use development on the site of Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus in Tampa, envisioned as a year-round destination to “work, live, learn, play” rather than a venue used only for 81 regular-season Major League games. Design lead Populous is engineering the facility to double as the largest indoor event facility in the Tampa Bay region and among the largest in the state of Florida, according to the Rays.
“One of our missions in designing the new ballpark was to solve a fundamental problem with single-purpose facilities,” Babby said. “With 81 Rays games plus special events, the Forever Home will be active and generating economic value throughout the year. In short, we feel it can be one of the busiest venues in sports, entertainment and events. That’s not just good for the Tampa Bay Rays – it’s transformational for hotels, restaurants, parking operators, transit agencies, security companies, and many other businesses and workers throughout Tampa Bay.”
Babby said the design accounts for flexibility at every level. “We’re designing this facility with intention,” he said. “Every detail, from the club placements to the flexibility of the seating bowl to the infrastructure supporting events, has been considered with multiple uses in mind.” The club noted the space could also accommodate qualification competitions for global athletic events.
In May, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County approved a non-binding memorandum of understanding outlining the framework of a potential deal. The Rays hope to open the ballpark in time for Opening Day in 2029. Babby said he plans to meet individually with each council member in the coming days ahead of any future vote.