Hillsborough Approves Key Agreements for New Tampa Bay Rays Ballpark District

Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 5–2 on August 28, 2026, to move forward with development and funding agreements for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark project. Tampa City Council also approved agreements supporting the project, which is planned for the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus.

The proposed stadium complex will sit near the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and West Tampa Bay Boulevard, close to Raymond James Stadium and Tampa International Airport. County officials describe the plan as part of an $8 billion private-sector investment combining a Major League Baseball ballpark, a redesigned college campus, housing, offices, retail, and public gathering spaces.

The Rays have identified April 2029 as the anticipated opening target. Additional agreements still require consideration, including the Ballpark License and Use Agreement, Community Benefits Agreement, and Construction Funds Trust Agreement. The August votes represent a major step toward keeping the Rays in Tampa and creating a large mixed-use district around the future stadium.