What started as speculation has now found its way to the agenda of the HCC Board of Trustees.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Dale Mabry campus was at the center of speculations this week that it would make for the new site for the Tampa Bay Rays stadium. Hillsborough Community College published in a meeting agenda that they have been approached by representatives of the team to use part of the campus for a ballpark.
According to a meeting agenda for the HCC Board of Trustees, next Tuesday, the body will discuss a non-binding memorandum of understanding to outline terms and conditions that the Rays and the HCC would like for a project agreement to contain.
The memo will not require the HCC to do the project and it can be terminated by the board at any time, according to the agenda reviewed by 10 Tampa Bay News.
“Hillsborough College has been approached by representatives of the Tampa Bay Rays (“Rays”) baseball team regarding the use of a portion of the Dale Mabry campus for a proposed Major League Baseball stadium and associated mixed-use development (the “Project”),” the agenda states. “After discussions between College staff and Rays representatives, the Rays have asked the College to enter into final, binding agreements for the Project. The Project as proposed would result in a major transformation of many aspects of the Dale Mabry campus.”
The HCC Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Just two days ago, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said she heard reports that the Hillsborough College District Board of Trustees would hold a special meeting on Jan. 20. The new information confirms that the meeting is expected to include a vote on a plan that could clear the way for a more than 100-acre mixed-use development, including the new ballpark.
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“I heard that as well, that meeting — but I don’t have the details of that particular meeting,” Castor said, adding that she is also expected to meet with HCC leadership in the near future.
10 Tampa Bay News reached out to St. Petersburg’s Mayor Ken Welch for comment, but at the time of publishing, no response transpired from his office.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg is accepting proposals to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District, which includes Tropicana Field, currently the home of the Rays. Mayor Ken Welch said those plans may or may not include a stadium.
“Our intent is to move forward with the development of those properties, and whether that includes a long-term component for the Rays is yet to be determined,” Welch said on Tuesday. “If you look at their criteria for 100 acres, then that would rule us out.”
The HCC Board of Trustees meeting agenda regarding the Tampa Bay Rays can be viewed below.