The Tampa Bay Rays have taken another major step toward a potential new stadium in Tampa by releasing the first renderings of a proposed ballpark and mixed-use district at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. The images offer the public an early glimpse into how the 100-acre site could be transformed into a stadium anchored district surrounded by high-rise development, retail, offices, and other uses.

The proposal centers on redeveloping the existing Hillsborough College campus into a new long-term home for the Rays while also creating a privately financed mixed-use district valued in the multi billions. According to the team, the ballpark itself would be funded through a public private partnership, with costs shared between the Rays, Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa. Rays ownership has stated it would cover at least half of the stadium construction costs, though the total price tag, currently estimated around $2.3 billion, is not considered final.

Support for the project has gained momentum in recent days. Hillsborough County Commissioners voted unanimously to allow county staff to officially enter negotiations with the Rays on stadium funding. Earlier, the Hillsborough College Board of Trustees approved a non-binding memorandum of understanding that would allow the redevelopment of the Dale Mabry campus as part of the ballpark district.

Team leadership has framed the project as more than just a stadium. Officials say the partnership with Hillsborough College would improve campus facilities, expand workforce development programs, and create new curriculum and internship opportunities for more than 45,000 students. An independent economic analysis projects the full buildout could generate $34 billion in total economic impact, support nearly 12,000 permanent jobs, and attract about 10 million annual visitors once completed.

The Rays are working with a large group of design, engineering, development, and civic partners, and have emphasized that the concept is still evolving. In the coming weeks, the team, Hillsborough College, and local officials plan to host community engagement sessions across the county. These meetings will allow residents, students, business owners, and fans to review the concepts, ask questions, and provide feedback that could influence the final design.

While many details remain unresolved, the release of the renderings signals a clear push by the Rays to build public support as negotiations move forward. If approved, the Dale Mabry project would represent one of the largest redevelopment efforts in Tampa Bay history and could determine where Major League Baseball calls home in the region for decades to come.