Tampa Bay Rays reveal bold new stadium renderings while future in St. Pete remains uncertain

Feb 20, 2026 - 08:15

The future of the Tampa Bay Rays’ ballpark remains one of the most closely watched and complex sports-business stories in Florida.

The Rays recently released conceptual renderings for a proposed new stadium and mixed-use district at the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus in Tampa, offering the public its first look at what a long-term home could eventually look like.

The Rays have released a first look at their proposed $2.3bn ballpark — The proposed stadium and surrounding area have been revealed in new plans

The images depict a 31,000-seat ballpark integrated into a larger district of retail, housing, entertainment, and community spaces, designed to create a walkable, fan-focused environment.

Team officials have stressed that these designs are conceptual and evolving, with further site studies, community input, and planning required before any approvals or construction could occur.

Political leaders, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have engaged with the idea, and discussions about potential land use are ongoing, but no binding deal exists for this Tampa site.

The Rays’ most recently approved plan remains the Historic Gas Plant District in St. Petersburg, located just east of Tropicana Field.

In 2024, the Rays and development partner Hines secured approvals from the City Council and Pinellas County for a mixed-use redevelopment centered on this 86-acre site, including a roughly 30,000-seat ballpark and accompanying retail, residential, and entertainment spaces.

The project relied on a public-private financing model, with approximately $312.5 million in public funds from Pinellas County and contributions from the City of St. Petersburg, alongside private investment from the Rays and Hines.

The design aimed to offer an intimate, fan-friendly experience with terraces, open concourses, and a pavilion-style aesthetic, championed by Rays executives Matt Silverman and Erik Neander.

However, in March 2025, the Rays announced they would not move forward with the Gas Plant project due to unforeseen complications, including Hurricane Milton’s damage to Tropicana Field and delays tied to municipal milestones.

By July 2025, the St. Petersburg City Council formally terminated the redevelopment deal, leaving the Historic Gas Plant District without a stadium anchor.

The city remains focused on redeveloping the area for housing, cultural, and workforce initiatives, but the Rays’ long-term stadium plans are no longer tied to that site.

Renders of the new Tampa Bay Rays stadium, released as the project hits a new milestone — The Rays have released a first look at their proposed $2.3bn ballpark

While a replacement stadium is not yet under construction, Tropicana Field itself is being repaired to ensure the Rays can continue playing in St. Petersburg.

The roof, heavily damaged during Hurricane Milton in October 2024, is undergoing renovations with support including FEMA funding, allowing the team to play at Tropicana Field for the 2026 season. This ensures short-term continuity while the franchise explores longer-term options.

Multiple redevelopment proposals have surfaced for the Historic Gas Plant District in early 2026, and the Rays’ newly released Tampa renderings indicate the franchise is also considering alternative inland sites.

The Hillsborough College proposal, while not binding, signals the Rays’ interest in securing a permanent, modern home and reflects the team’s ambition to create a ballpark that functions as both a sports venue and a year-round community hub.

For now, the Rays’ stadium story is very much a work in progress, balancing conceptual design, municipal negotiations, public funding debates, and fan expectations.

Tropicana Field repairs will keep the team on the field in St. Petersburg, while conceptual renderings and alternative proposals illustrate that the franchise’s long-term future — and the site of its permanent forever home — is still very much up in the air.