Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet approved the transfer of 22 acres of state land to Hillsborough College for a proposed Rays stadium in Tampa.
TAMPA, Fla. — A proposed new home for the Tampa Bay Rays cleared a hurdle Tuesday as the governor and Cabinet approved transferring 22 acres of state-owned land to Hillsborough College, property that could become the site of a new stadium.
Under the action, the state will convey approximately 22 acres of non-conservation land on the college’s Dale Mabry campus and release deed restrictions so college leaders can move forward with negotiations.
If construction does not begin within five years, the land will revert back to the state.
The vote gives Hillsborough College the authority to negotiate a long-term lease agreement with the Rays, but it does not guarantee a stadium. Financing, local approvals and binding agreements still must be finalized.
Renderings released by the team show a $2.3 billion, 31,000-seat stadium surrounded by mixed-use development on the campus.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said the proposal would allow the college to transform underused property while supporting baseball in the region.
“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 and also connecting some of their students to all the great things that are going to be happening around them,” DeSantis said.
The governor has also faced questions about the value of the land. He suggested it holds limited value outside the proposed redevelopment.
“Much is this land worth? Honestly, I don’t know that it’s worth very much outside of this proposal because you wouldn’t — like a home builder would not put a subdivision there — no way. People wouldn’t do commercial buildings,” DeSantis said.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said redeveloping the property would provide broader economic benefits.
“What’s today largely just a bunch of parking lots will be completely renovated to a live-work-entertain district that you know is going to have significant economic benefit to the state,” he said.
Under a non-binding memorandum previously approved by Hillsborough College trustees, the college would retain land for new academic facilities and lease the remaining property to the Rays for at least 99 years.
The governor has repeatedly said the state will not finance stadium construction.
Still, the Senate’s proposed budget includes $50 million to help relocate college facilities — funding not currently included in the House spending plan.
“My view is rather than pour money into rehabbing old buildings, why don’t you reimagine it in a good way?” DeSantis said.
The Rays have projected a roughly $2.3 billion cost for the project, with ownership covering about half. County leaders are debating whether public dollars, including Community Investment Tax revenue, should help cover the remainder.
“There’s gonna be a lot of other hurdles that need to go. I know HCC is going to be working with the organization. I know the organization is going to be working with the city and county, and we’ll see how all that plays out,” DeSantis said.
Hillsborough College and the Rays have 180 days of exclusive negotiations to finalize binding agreements. The negotiating period began Jan. 20 and runs through July 19.