The Tampa Bay Rays new ownership group has prioritized the 108 acre Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus for a new stadium in Tampa, between Tampa International Airport’s secondary runway and the Buccaneer’s Raymond James Stadium, and has an aggressive goal of opening a new stadium for the 2029 season.
Today, the Rays take the first step toward making their goals a reality, as the Hillsborough College District Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on a memorandum of understanding with the team regarding a new stadium that will include a new campus for the college:
On Tuesday, the board will consider a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with the Rays, which the board can terminate at any time. If it’s approved, the Rays and Hillsborough College will draft a deal to be approved at a later meeting, according to the agenda item.
This morning, the Times released their first report on the non-binding MOU this morning which noted the following:
- A new College District would be built as a “standalone project” on the southwest corner of the stadium site, and would not be leased to the Rays, with Hillsborough College responsible for construction and upkeep, and the Rays receiving final approval on design and aesthetics.
- Hillsborough College would maintain ownership of the stadium site and lease the non-college property to the Rays with a long-term lease, not less than 99 years.
- If public funding goes to the stadium or project, ownership would be transferred to the county, which the Times notes “would keep the team’s owners from having to pay property taxes”
Given that this non-binding MOU is the first step in what is sure to be a negotiation, these elements are not guaranteed to be in any finding resolution to be signed at a later date.
The meeting at which the Rays will make their first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
