New Tampa Bay Rays Owners Prefer Stadium Development Similar To Battery Atlanta

After doing its homework when it comes to stadium development, the Tampa Bay Rays’ new ownership group, led by Jacksonville-based developer, Partrick Zalupski, came to the conclusion that the Atlanta Braves’ home of Truist Park, which anchors the Battery Atlanta sports and entertainment district, is the model to be followed.

“We spent a lot of time studying, evaluating and meeting with the Atlanta Braves,” said Zalupski, at a press conference held at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday. “We think the Battery is the gold standard of what we want to build and develop here in Tampa Bay.”

Notice Zalupski said ‘Tampa Bay’ and not Tampa or St. Pete during an event in which both city’s mayors, Tampa’s Jane Castor and St. Pete’s Ken Welch, attended as well as officials from the counties of Hillsborough and Pinellas. While there is no interest in building a facility “30 miles outside Tampa” as Zalupski put it, several options are on the table as the group works with a fresh canvas that comes with wide open pathways, but certainly constraints as obstacles that are sure to emerge. The group closed on the sale of the ballclub September 30.

The current lease at Tropicana Field, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton last October, runs through the 2028 season. It is the desire of the new owners to be in a new facility for the beginning of the 2029 season.

“We acknowledge this is aggressive and perhaps audacious,” Zalupski said of the timeline given that it is October and the calendar is bumping up against 2026. “But time is of the essence. We are full steam ahead on site evaluation and feasibility analysis.”

The plan, as Zalupski stated, is to have “at least” a 110-acre parcel with a ballpark serving as the anchor for a district featuring hotels, offices, a music venue, restaurants and bars.

“It no secret that we need a new forever home to secure the Rays’ long-term future in Tampa Bay,” he said. “Delivering upon that objective will be our first priority.”

Unlike Truist Park, which is open air, the Rays’ new home would be fully enclosed. While the Rays did not have a single rainout at their 2025 home of Steinbrenner Field, there were several games in which the heat index at 7:35 for first pitch was above 100.

A retractable dome, though, is something that will not be built. The group’s due diligence steered them away from such an option as they envision the Rays and other events entirely insulated from Mother Nature.

“We envision a fully closed dome, climate controlled and non-retractable ballpark,” said Zalupksi. “There are a lot of issues and maintenance with a retractable roof. Most of the owners (of teams that play in such ballparks) we’ve talked to would actually now be against it and wished they hadn’t done it. So, we envision it being fully enclosed, which we think becomes a world-class concert venue (with) 150 to 180 events per year.”

Tropicana Field

Given what seems to be a very challenging timeline to have a ballpark built by the start of the 2029 season, the inclination is to wonder about a lease extension for the Rays at the Trop beyond 2028. The slightest delay, however it may come about, could scuttle the desired timing and perhaps push back the completion of a new venue until the next decade.

The Rays’ CEO, Ken Babby, owner of minor league teams in Jacksonville and Akron, Ohio, did not want to go down that road at this point, stating it is “premature” to discuss an extension. The city of St. Petersburg, which is moving forward with its Tropicana Field site redevelopment plans, would be open to any such discussion if it becomes necessary.

“We are going to move forward in addressing the citizens of St. Petersburg and talk with the Rays about what we need to do in the short term, but also what beyond 2028 looks like, including a possible extension even if they found a site somewhere else,” said Welch. “Just with logistics and timing, they might need an extension, and we are open to talking about that.”

Fans attending games at a rehabbed Tropicana Field over the next three seasons – 12 of 24 new roof panels will be installed by the end of this week with significant interior work continuing — will see plenty of development taking place on a 60-acre parcel just east of the stadium. They will also experience what was described as an improved baseball environment. To that extent, and though the ideal situation is to play only three seasons at the Trop, the owners have no interest in cutting corners.

“Tropicana Field is going to look better than it ever has ever looked,” said Babby, rattling off a list of features that include a new video board, a new sound system and improved concessions. “Despite our objective of being in a new ballpark in 2029, we want to be competitive and successful on the field, of course, but continue to invest in the fan experience from food options, accessibility, pricing.”

While getting a stadium development project moving along as soon as possible is first and foremost, the ownership group is looking forward to building new community relationships and strengthening current ones on both sides of the bay.

“A baseball team is more than an organization that sells hot dogs, popcorn and beer,’’ said Babby. “A great team uses its platform to celebrate great works in the community and to pitch in when the community needs help.”