After more than 20 years at Tropicana Field, the Tampa Bay Rays are planning a move to a new home.

The Major League Baseball team has published plans for its new “forever home” to be located on approximately 130 acres in Tampa’s Westshore District and Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. The site is located adjacent to the Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and George Steinbrenner Memorial Field, the current spring training home of the New York Yankees and where the Rays have been playing temporarily while damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton is being repaired.

The new development will combine a modern, state-of-the-art baseball stadium with a walkable, “retail rich” district of shops and restaurants. The stadium will have a 31,000-seat capacity.

The team estimates the $2.3 billion project will bring in 10 million annual visitors and more than 175 events annually. Local news reports the team is willing to cover half the cost and hopes for public funding through Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa to cover the rest. 

The team touts its workforce development program, which will enhance its partnership with Hillsborough Community College by creating student learning and career growth opportunities. The development plans include the so-called “Innovation Edge,” which the team describes as a hub for learning, health, performance and discovery.

According to the team, the project will create nearly 12,000 on-site jobs, approximately 40,000 equivalent jobs and about 39,000 construction jobs during development.

The new park complex is also estimated to generate more than $6 billion in new tax revenue for the state and local governments over the next 30 years. During that timeframe, it is also projected to generate $55 billion in economic impact.

The team has conducted three public hearings in the month of March to gather input. Team officials expect agreements to be reached with local officials sometime this year.