TAMPA, Fla. \u2013 The Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday offered fans their first glimpse of what a new home in Tampa could look like, releasing early renderings of a proposed ballpark and sprawling mixed-use district at Hillsborough College\u2019s Dale Mabry campus.<\/p>\n
The planned stadium, designed to hold about 31,000 fans, aims to be \u201cthe most intimate in Major League Baseball<\/a>\u201d and will offer diverse seating options, celebration areas and year-round event spaces focused on fan comfort and accessibility. <\/p>\n The new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark campus will include Champions Quarter. (Tampa Bay Rays)<\/p>\n Beyond the stadium, the project includes the Champions Quarter, a walkable neighborhood blending baseball, culture and retail. The district is intended to be a lively destination that attracts visitors beyond game days, strengthening Tampa Bay\u2019s regional identity.<\/p>\n The Rays\u2019 vision will continue to evolve as designers study the site and gather input from local leaders, students, residents and business owners, team officials said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m incredibly grateful for what our organization and the Tampa community have accomplished in just over 100 days since acquiring the team, and of the progress we are making together toward a Forever Home for the Rays and our loyal fans,\u201d Patrick Zalupski said.<\/p>\n A rendering of the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed ballpark and mixed-use district on the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College. (MLB)<\/p>\n Hillsborough College\u2019s Board of Trustees has approved a memorandum of understanding with the Rays to redevelop the campus, aiming to improve facilities and expand workforce development and internship opportunities for more than 45,000 students, officials said in a news release<\/a>. <\/p>\n Aerial rendering of the planned new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays. (Tampa Bay Rays)<\/p>\n The project is a public-private partnership, with stadium costs shared by the Rays, Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa. The broader multibillion-dollar mixed-use development will be privately financed.<\/p>\n An independent economic analysis projects a $34 billion impact, nearly 12,000 new permanent jobs, and about 10 million annual visitors once complete \u2014 attendance comparable to a major U.S. theme park.<\/p>\n