The Tampa Bay Rays released a first look of their new $2.3 billion stadium in Tampa Bay on Thursday.
The Rays played the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ home during spring training. They chose to relocate out of Tropicana Field after 2024’s Hurricane Milton severely damaged the roof of the venue. Their move will take them from St. Petersburg, FL, to Tampa Bay, FL.
Along with the visuals, the Rays released information about their new stadium.
“The Forever Home of the Tampa Bay Rays will be located on approximately 130 acres in Tampa’s Westshore District and Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus,” their website reads. “With an estimated capacity of 31,000, the ballpark is set to be the most intimate in Major League Baseball and introduce an unmatched, world-class fan experience. Easy ingress and egress points ensure seamless navigation through the venue offering diverse seating, celebration areas, and year-round event spaces.”
In addition to that release, the Rays announced “Champions Quarter”, a destination neighborhood for fans which blends baseball and culture, and a partnership with Hillsborough College, which is located right next to the new stadium’s location.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke in support of the new stadium Tuesday at a news conference at Hillsborough College.
“One thing that has been consistent during my time as Commissioner was my view that Major League Baseball belongs in Tampa Bay,” Manfred said. “That support has been, I hope, clear and unwavering.
“There’s great excitement about the new ownership group here with the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s a great group. It’s a big group. It’s a Florida- and Tampa-rooted group, [which is] really important in terms of the local presence here. I know that this group wants to make baseball a success here. They want to get a new facility built, and they want to provide a winner to the Rays fans here in the Tampa Bay region.”
The Rays are on the clock, as their lease at Tropicana Field only runs through the 2028 season. They could extend their lease if they don’t get the stadium done in time, but they haven’t addressed anything that far ahead. For now, they’ll return to a repaired Tropicana Field and hope their plans for a new stadium come to fruition.