Hillsborough Community College trustees are set to consider a non-binding agreement tied to a potential Tampa Bay Rays stadium.
TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough Community College trustees will consider approving a non-binding memorandum of agreement Tuesday tied to a potential new home for the Tampa Bay Rays at the Dale Mabry campus.
The proposed agreement would allow planning to move forward on a large mixed-use development anchored by a ballpark. How the project would ultimately be funded remains unclear, though a combination of public and private dollars is expected.
Former St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster, who spent years negotiating with the Rays after taking office in 2010, said the structure of the proposal makes it stand out from past efforts.
“To use property owned by the people, the state, if they’re willing to give it up for a price, I think it’s genius,” Foster said.
Foster said previous attempts to move the team to Tampa, including proposals centered in Ybor City, collapsed when financing could not be secured. He believes the current ownership group brings a different approach.
“This new ownership group has money, they have access to money, and I think they’re willing to spend their own money,” Foster said.
Still, Foster cautioned that any deal involving public land or taxpayer dollars must be carefully structured.
“My biggest piece of advice would be to protect the taxpayer,” he said. “Make sure whatever the ownership brings to the table is enough.”
Foster also said Pinellas County should not contribute financially if the stadium moves to Tampa.
“Our loss is Tampa’s gain, and you guys can pay for it,” Foster said. “We’ve been paying for it for 30 years. Now it’s your turn.”
Economic development expert John Boyd said modern stadium projects are designed to drive long-term growth beyond baseball.
“The Rays stadium will be the anchor, but the related real estate development will be a year-round source of employment, economic impact and tax revenue,” Boyd said.
Boyd said the size of the HCC site, combined with nearby infrastructure, gives the proposal a logistical advantage. He added that the Rays, currently among the lowest-valued teams in Major League Baseball, could see a significant financial boost.
“The valuation for the Rays here can skyrocket,” Boyd said. “It can double or triple with this related real estate development. It’ll help the Rays put a more competitive product on the field.”
HCC Trustees, multiple Hillsborough County commissioners and Tampa city officials did not respond to requests for comments or declined to comment.