About 5,000 square feet will be open to the public and include family-friendly experiences, team memorabilia, exhibits highlighting the stadium district and retail, the Rays said.<\/p>\n
It will include a digital preview of the ballpark and future Hillsborough College campus, a stop to create a personalized baseball card, and other \u201cexperiences celebrating the past, present and future.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRays fans, sitting anywhere from general to premium seating, will no longer have to imagine their experience in our new ballpark,\u201d Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a news release.<\/p>\n
The remaining space will be appointment-only for prospective season ticket members, premium clients and partners.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur sponsors and marketing partners will see how their investment in the ballpark will deliver an entirely new level of energy and connection with Rays fans and their target audiences, which are often the same,\u201d Babby said.<\/p>\n
Plans include \u201cadvanced technology\u201d providing sightline views, hospitality and premium offerings, group areas, and hotel, office and retail elements of the 120-acre development.<\/p>\n
The center will illustrate \u201csignage, activation, client engagement and opportunities that may have been difficult to imagine not long ago,\u201d Babby said.<\/p>\n
The Ballpark Experience Center, at 1111 N. Westshore Blvd., is slated to open early next year.<\/p>\n
Attracting fans, sponsors and business tenants is only half of the work. Building the stadium and surrounding district is another tall task for the Rays.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ: Rays partner with Legends Global as owner’s rep, sales lead for new stadium<\/a><\/p>\n A big step in that occurred Monday and Tuesday, when more than 400 people from the construction industry attended information sessions with the stadium\u2019s construction manager, according to the trade industry organization ABC Florida Gulf Coast.<\/p>\n ABC has been an active supporter of the stadium proposal, citing employment opportunities for the region’s tradespeople. The group teamed with construction manager AECOM Hunt, Turner Construction and Tampa-based Horus Construction Services to host the outreach sessions at Hillsborough College.<\/p>\n Facebook <\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n ABC Florida Gulf Coast <\/p>\n ABC Florida Gulf Coast partnered with AECOM Hunt, Turner Construction and Horus Construction to host contractor outreach events for the new Tampa Bay Rays stadium project. More than 400 people representing hundreds of construction firms attended over two days at Hillsborough College, the trades group said. <\/p>\n The Tampa City Council and Hillsborough County Commission in August approved <\/a>financing agreements that will provide up to $876 million combined toward the stadium. The Rays have committed more than $1.3 billion to cover all cost overruns.<\/p>\n \u201cA major project like this means more than a new stadium. It means opportunities for local contractors, good construction careers, apprenticeships and millions of dollars of economic activity throughout Tampa Bay,\u201d ABC Florida Gulf Coast said in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n![\"view](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791391691_432_.jpeg\"\/)
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