$2.3bn MLB ballpark gets double update as ‘fractious’ city vote paves way for defining city verdict

A defining week for the city of Tampa Bay and it’s sports franchises looks to have cleared it’s final hurdles.

24 hours afters the next step in plans for a new, $2.3 billion ballpark moved forward, a second city vote has also gone the way of the Tampa Bay Rays.

On Thursday, the City of Tampa council narrowly approved a deal that will be funded by public and private money.

A tight 4-3 vote secured an $80million share of the project, while Friday’s meeting was to secure another $796million commitment and Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve the package.

With nearly $1 billion in public funding now secured three months on from the tentative agreement that was struck with local government officials, Rays CEO Ken Babby was delighted with the final outcome.

“We now look forward to celebrating before breaking ground with Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa on a future that has long been doubted, but will indeed happen,” Babby said after the vote.

“By making the Forever Home a reality, the Rays are now home forever in Tampa Bay.”

The Florida-based MLB team have now solidified their future plans, and attention turns to the final stages of a stadium saga that has spanned two decades.

Tampa Sports Authority is also being asked to fund a refurbishment of Raymond James Stadium — home of the NFL‘s Buccaneers and the green light on Friday cements a legacy for the area and both franchises.

The Rays themselves have already committed at least $1.3billion to the project, and earlier in the summer revealed jaw-dropping injury for their forever home.

A decaying Tropicana Field has been the team’s home since they entered the league in 1998 , although in 2025 they played at the New York Yankees Spring facility at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Having returned to Tropicana for the 2026 season, the plan will be now to see out the terms of their lease which runs until 2028 and move into their new home for the 2029 season.

Tampa Bay Rays / Populous

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How will the new Rays ballpark be funded?

The Rays are planning to build a domed facility and mixed-use development at the Dale Mabry Campus of Hillsborough College, with the aim of moving in for Opening Day 2029.

That location is close to Tampa International Airport, and also across the street from Raymond James Stadium, home to the NFL‘s
Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

New images of the proposed ballpark were released in July.

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The team is set to invest approximately $1.37bn in the project, as well as all cost overruns, with the county covering $796m and the city’s portion reduced to $80m.

Next up for the Rays is moving on to commence the bond and funding validation process before they can finally break ground on their long sought-after ballpark.

The county would own the stadium, with the Rays paying $4m annually in rent. The initial term of the use agreement is for 35 years.

“This agreement deserves our support. I’m supporting it because I believe it is in Tampa’s best long-term interest,” Tampa City Council member Alan Clendenin said.

“It is not merely a vote on a baseball stadium.

“It is a vote on whether Tampa is prepared to compete for investments, jobs, housing, education and opportunity, or whether we’re willing to let those opportunities go elsewhere.”