Today, Governor DeSantis and MLB Commissioner Manfred gathered with Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater and Rays CEO Ken Babby to show a united front in the effort to build a Rays stadium at the current Hillsborough College site.
“Baseball belongs in Tampa Bay,” DeSantis said. “Baseball can succeed in Tampa Bay.”
Governor DeSantis led off, with long-winded remarks, and Manfred followed, then came Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater, and Rays CEO Ken Babby, followed by questions from the press.
Manfred’s presence signaled that Major League Baseball fully supports the Rays new ownership and their plan. “Today is an important day,” Manfred said. “It’s a milestone along a path that I believe will lead to the Tampa Bay Rays being a part of this community for decades to come.”
While Manfred was hesitant to say that this is the last chance for the Rays to build a ballpark in the Tampa Bay Area, he made it clear that the clock is ticking. “Florida is vibrant, there are alternatives in Florida,” Manfred said. “And I do think we’re at a point in the history of the club that something needs to get done.”
Babby emphasized that this project is about more than baseball. “This is about building a stronger Tampa, a stronger region by reinvesting back in the community, and rejuvenating a college,” Babby said. “And creating a world-class, mixed-use development, and the future home of the Tampa Bay Rays.”
While no ballpark renderings were shown at Tuesday’s press conference, DeSantis revealed that they will be released in the coming days. Tuesday’s press conference was instead an opportunity for the Rays to bring out some of the biggest power players in this process, a show of strength not previously seen in the Rays Stadium Saga.
Next, they’ll need to present local officials with a plan on how to pay for this whole thing.
After Hillsborough College’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding last month, there are still several hurdles for the Rays new ownership to jump through, most importantly how they are going to pay for the ballpark and surrounding development.
When Governor DeSantis opened the floor to questions, he was naturally met with funding concerns, specifically from state funds or state taxes. He mentioned that there are “deferred maintenance” funds that could be used towards the campus as currently constructed, but that they would be better used by going towards a new, reimagined campus. He denied that any new state taxes would be needed to fund this project.
Vocal support for the Rays and their stadium efforts from Governor DeSantis is a new revelation.
DeSantis previously vetoed state funds for a new Rays spring training facility in Pasco County in 2022, stating, “I don’t support giving taxpayer dollars to professional sports stadiums.” CNN reported that his decision to pull funding came after the Rays made a statement against gun violence, partnering with the organization Everytown, under the previous ownership group.
It seems as though the change in ownership was enough to get DeSantis on board with the Rays’ efforts to build a ballpark in Tampa Bay.
Watch the Press Conference:
