DeSantis, Cabinet approve Hillsborough College land transfer for Rays stadium

The Tampa Bay Rays are another step closer to building a baseball stadium on land now occupied by Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet agreed to transfer 22 acres of nonconservation state land to the college for a multi-use development that includes a new campus and indoor ballpark.

They also agreed to remove deed restrictions limiting the property to college use that will allow negotiations between the Rays and college officials to commence.

The land transfer comes a month after the Rays signed a nonbinding memorandum of agreement with the college to build the stadium development on the 113-acre site, across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium.

DeSantis said he prefers to "reimagine" the 56-year-old campus rather than renovate its aging buildings.

"I think it'd be something that would be good for (HC), and I think it's also something that would ensure that baseball remains in Tampa Bay, which I think is important, but also just offering some vitality to that particular part of Tampa," he said.

State of Florida

A new campus would be built on the west side of the property, along Lois Avenue.

"I think that that's going to really change the character of the area for the better," DeSantis said at the meeting with his Cabinet: Attorney General James Uthmeier, CFO Blaise Ingoglia and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

He added he's impressed with everything that's been put forward and appreciates the board and Hillsborough College president Ken Atwater leaning into the stadium idea, saying he thinks they "see a lot of avenues to really take their campus to the next level."

"I think this is appropriate to empower them to be able to negotiate a deal that's going to allow them to have a reinvigorated and reimagined campus," DeSantis said. "And also connecting some of their students to all the great things that are going to be happening around them."

ALSO READ: Here's a look at renderings for the Rays' proposed ballpark in Tampa

Uthmeier agreed the proposal would be a better use of the land and could help college students down the road.

"What's today largely just a bunch of parking lots will be completely renovated to a live, work, entertain district that is going to have significant economic benefit to the state," Uthmeier said. "I also think a lot of great opportunities for the students to do internships, apprenticeships, walk right across the street and have job opportunities right there, and at the end of the day, I'm a big fan of keeping the Rays in Florida. I know they were looking at other states, other options, and I'm happy we'll be able to keep them in Tampa."

Florida has owned the transferred land since it was acquired from the U.S. government as part of a 155-acre acquisition by the State Tuberculosis Board of Florida in 1947. Since 1968, the land has been held or leased to the college and other state agencies, according to Cabinet records.

The state holds the right to take back the land if the “components” of the new stadium do not exist within five years of the transfer, according to the Cabinet's agenda item.

The Rays plan to move into the new stadium for the 2029 season.

In a statement, Rays CEO Ken Babby expressed thanks to DeSantis.

"Our momentum is real and growing, thanks to the remarkable spirit of community and statewide partnership that our ownership group has been privileged to experience from the start," he said. "This is undoubtedly a big moment for Tampa Bay, and the Rays are fully in this moment to bring this vision to life, and serve our region for generations to come.”

The Rays' ownership, which bought the team last year, is looking for a public-private partnership, and any deal would have to include support from the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County.

The Rays have agreed to pay half the cost of building the estimated $2.3 billion stadium and any overruns. The development would include hotels, offices and restaurants, whose tax dollars could be used to eventually pay off the tab.

The city and county would pick up the remainder. Where that money will come from still needs to be worked out.

"There's going to be a lot of other hurdles that need to go," DeSantis said. "I know (HC) is going to be working with the organization. I know the organization's going be working with the city and county, and we'll see how all that plays out. But I think the vision is compelling, and I think this makes a lot of sense from the state's perspective."

The project is portrayed as emulating The Battery Atlanta, a 10-acre mixed-use project the Atlanta Braves developed next to the taxpayer-funded Truist Park northwest of the city.

ALSO READ: Hillsborough will begin stadium negotiations with the Rays, with cost top of mind

Under previous owners, the Rays have been attempting to get a new stadium for more than a decade.

The Rays currently play at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, although the domed stadium was slammed by Hurricane Milton in 2024, and the team had to play at Tampa's Steinbrenner Field last year. The lease ends after the 2028 season.

The proposed budget out of the Florida Senate offers $50 million to help the college relocate facilities for the stadium, but the House spending plan doesn’t include the funding.

Information from News Service of Florida was used in this report.