TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Bay Rays have released new indoor renderings of their proposed stadium, providing a first look inside what the team calls its future “Forever Home.”
The proposed ballpark would be built on approximately 130 acres in Tampa’s Westshore District and Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus. Designed with an estimated capacity of 31,000, it would become the smallest stadium in Major League Baseball, with the Rays emphasizing a more intimate, fan-focused experience.
The team says the stadium will feature multiple seating options, celebration areas, year-round event spaces, and easy entry and exit points to improve traffic flow for fans attending games and other events.
According to the Rays, the project is expected to create 11,900 permanent jobs and 20,000 construction jobs. The stadium and surrounding development are projected to attract 10 million annual visitors and host more than 175 events each year.
The Rays estimate the development will generate a total economic impact of $55.5 billion over 30 years, including $34 billion in direct economic impact and $21.5 billion in indirect economic impact. Plans also call for more than 8 million square feet of mixed-use development.
Under the proposal, the Rays say they would pay at least 55% of the ballpark construction costs, while public funding would cover 45%. The team also says it would pay 100% of any construction cost overruns, ballpark operating expenses, maintenance costs, and the privately funded mixed-use development.
The Rays have not yet announced a construction timeline for the proposed stadium.
Sources: Rays, RCLCO (Development), Brailsford & Dunlavey (Economic Impact).
