TAMPA, Fla. – As negotiations continue between the Tampa Bay Rays and local municipalities over a Tampa ballpark, the team continues to share its vision.
On Monday, the team released a new set of renderings, this time focusing on other uses for the facility. The renderings include concerts, youth sports, Hillsborough College graduations and a wrestling-style event.
Rays officials said in addition to a home for the team, rebuilt college campus, retail and office space, it’s planned facility would be an asset to the overall community.
“We have said from the beginning that our new ballpark is about more than baseball,” Rays chief executive officer Ken Babby added in a statement. “A Forever Home ballpark for the Rays is about creating an economic engine for our region through a steady and vast array of special events that will drive hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic, parking revenue, airport activity and transit usage.
It’s about more than baseball.
We’re proud to unveil special event renderings for the @RaysForeverHome that represent the ballpark’s year-round versatility. These illustrate the capability to host major concerts and touring shows, graduations, championship sporting events,… pic.twitter.com/Yz5S54IVAi
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 27, 2026
“In doing so, we create thousands of jobs across hospitality, entertainment, security, operations, and support services. It’s the definition of a generational opportunity for our region.”
The planned 100-plus-acre mixed-use development will encompass more than 8 million square feet of mixed-use space organized around four distinctive districts: Champions Quarter, Innovation Edge (featuring a reimagined Hillsborough College campus), The Canopy, and The Row. Together, officials say, these neighborhoods will redefine and enhance Tampa Bay as a sports and entertainment destination.
The property for the project at Hillsborough College is located next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In February, the team released renderings of the proposed stadium and mixed-use district.
The Rays are seeking $976 million in public contributions to the project, with $796 million from the county and $180 million from the city.
Tampa city leaders last month pushed back a vote on the stadium until August.
In May, by a 5-2 vote, Hillsborough County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding related to the building of a new stadium. The Hillsborough College Board of Trustees also gave its OK to a lease agreement.
Team officials say they want to be in the new facility in time for the 2029 season.
A rendering of the Rays’ new ballpark hosting a college graduation. (Tampa Bay Rays)