HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla — The future owners of the Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly considering land around Hillsborough College as a site for a new baseball stadium.
The new ownership group is led by Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski, who is expected to keep the team in Tampa Bay. The purchase is expected to be completed by the end of the season. Also, new ownership would reportedly prefer a stadium be built in Tampa.
Commissioner Ken Hagan is working with the prospective new owners to get the Rays to move to Hillsborough County.
Hagan said he’s feeling good about their chances.
He added one spot the potential owners are checking out is the Hillsborough College campus, on Dale Mabry Highway across from Raymond James Stadium.
He said the college is not going anywhere but there’s a lot of land there, and that’s just what the potential owners are looking for.
“They made it clear to me they were looking at any potential location that offers the opportunity to have ancillary development around the ballpark,” Hagan said.
The additional land would give the owners a chance to develop a hub around the ballpark.
The college is one of several places Hagan said the potential owners are considering.
They’re also looking at the future Ybor Harbor, Westshore Mall and the Florida State fairgrounds.