Overview
- The Hillsborough College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m. to consider a nonbinding memorandum of understanding for the Rays to use part of the Dale Mabry campus.
- The agenda states the MOU would not commit the college to the project and could be terminated at any time, while allowing negotiations and drafting of agreements the Rays would reimburse the college to prepare.
- The Dale Mabry campus spans roughly 108–110 acres near Tampa International Airport, Raymond James Stadium, and Steinbrenner Field, matching the club’s search for a large mixed-use site.
- Rays CEO Ken Babby says the goal is to open a new ballpark by April 2029 within a 100–110 acre district modeled on Atlanta’s Battery.
- The ownership group pledges significant private investment but plans to seek a public-private partnership with local and state contributions.