Rays set date for $2.3bn ballpark groundbreaking as owner issues bold MLB payroll vow

The Tampa Bay Rays want to break ground on their ‘forever home’ in September.

Grand plans are in place to build a $2.3 billion ballpark in Hillsborough County, which will see the MLB team relocate 20 miles from their current home, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

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A site, on the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College has been selected, where the Rays will build their new home, and a surrounding mixed-use development.

The team is eyeing a new stadium in time for Opening Day 2029, having last week taken a massive step forward by securing approval for a combined $876 million in public funds towards the project.

Next up, comes a groundbreaking.

Rays target September to begin work on $2.3bn ballpark

“We need to stop thinking about this as building a ballpark in Tampa Bay,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said.

“We need to start thinking about this as a generational transformational project.”

Before the project can move forward, Babby said it will go through bond and funding validation.

A community benefits agreement must also be finalized, per Fox13.

When construction eventually gets under way, Hillsborough College classes will continue, although some will temporarily shift to other facilities on the Dale Mabry campus.

Babby revealed that one of the first priorities is to create ‘The Nest’ — a temporary onsite campus.

It will feature portable classrooms and other interim facilities for students and staff.

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“We are eager to begin work on The Nest immediately,” Babby said.

“The Nest is the transitionary process of building their new temporary campus while we’re still in construction.”

While the ballpark is built, Hillsborough College will also undergo its own $215m transformation.

Plans include a new library, classroom buildings, outdoor spaces and common areas.

Rays targeting top 15 payroll with new ballpark project

A new, state-of-the-art stadium, and surrounding development, will benefit the Rays both on and off the field.

Speaking recently, team owner Patrick Zalupski revealed he hopes Tampa Bay can become a ‘top-15 payroll’ team.

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The Rays typically rank among the lowest revenues and smallest payrolls in the MLB, but that could soon change.

“We wanted to be able to invest in the team and be as successful as we can possibly be and not be held back, hopefully, by being what’s considered a fairly low-revenue team,” Zalupski said Sunday, per the Tampa Bay Times.

“Our goal is to change that. We don’t want to be considered a low-revenue team anymore.

“We want to be one of the top markets, and we think Tampa can be one of the top markets long term. So that’s our goal. We’ve got to deliver on it now.

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“We believe with the new ballpark and the new development around the ballpark we should be able to drive into the top-15 circle, maybe even top 10.

“Tampa’s the No. 11 media market in the country, with three and a half million residents. There’s nothing holding it back.”