Tampa Bay Rays Reveal Renderings for Proposed Tampa Ballpark
The Tampa Bay Rays gave fans a peek of how their new home might look.
Rays CEO Ken Babby shared indoor renderings for a new ballpark Wednesday in the fifth inning of the 3-0 win over the Yankees.
The proposed venue, meant to create the “most intimate in Major League Baseball,” will be built near the Westshore District and Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus and seat around 31,000 people.
“We’re listening and working hard to deliver on what we feel will be the best ballpark experience in the game, bar none,” Babby told Rays.TV.
The primary plaza will be located in center field, featuring a large aquarium with live stingrays.
Babby mentioned fans being “closer to the catcher than the catcher is to the pitcher” and general seating bowls will ensure fans sit as close as possible to the action in every area of the ballpark.
In 2024, Hurricane Milton hit the Tampa Bay area with heavy rainfall and high winds two weeks after Hurricane Helene. The winds caused significant damage to the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
The damage to the roof forced the Rays to find a new place to play. Attention turned to Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training and Minor League field near Raymond James Stadium. The ballpark was transformed into a temporary home for the Rays during their 2025 campaign, while panels at Tropicana were repaired.
The roof is another notable feature of the new ballpark plans, featuring a clear view of the sky. Specialty lighting will play a role in a night game environment. Playability and natural outdoor experiences will be prioritized. Babby wanted to combine the feeling of outdoor baseball with a dome for comfortability.
“It’s sort of a nice nod to the history,” Babby said. “The same group that actually worked all last year to get the roof back on Tropicana Field is leading the new engineering of our new roof design.”
The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County agreed on negotiations of a deal for the ballpark in May. However, funding has not been decided between both parties. Costs for a project this large are estimated at $2.3 billion.
The Rays hope to welcome fans into their new home on Opening Day in 2029.
“Rays fans deserve it” Babby said. “When Rays fans walk into this building, this will feel like theirs and ours.”
Category: Baseball, MLB, Tampa Bay Rays
