Rays release renderings of office spaces around proposed 'Forever Home' ballpark

TORONTO -- The Rays on Thursday revealed another part of their vision for a proposed “Forever Home” ballpark and mixed-used development in Tampa, releasing renderings of an office building that would be located just outside the ballpark.

The club recently unveiled the first round of images illustrating their vision for the inside of their planned $2.3 billion ballpark across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium. In those renderings, there was a building visible beyond the outfield. Thursday’s release offered a closer look at the interior and exterior of that space.

According to the Rays, the mixed-use district surrounding the ballpark -- which they hope to open in 2029 -- would include premium office space, ground-floor retail, live entertainment and dining options, a location designated for a convention hotel and additional hotel space, modern residential offerings and public spaces gathering in addition to a rebuilt campus for Hillsborough College.

The area, encompassing more than 8 million square feet, will be broken into four districts: Champions Quarter (with the proposed ballpark), Innovation Edge (home to the Hillsborough College campus), The Canopy and The Row.

The club said that additional renderings of the mixed-use development, including a master plan with the college campus, will be released “in the near future.”

“We have said from the start that this project is about much more than baseball and a new ballpark,” Rays chief executive officer Ken Babby said in a statement. “The proposed privately financed district that will be made possible by a new ballpark is attracting interest and gaining significant momentum. It has sparked an appetite among Fortune 500 companies from beyond Tampa Bay who want to be part of a game-changing vision, and we’ve also had meaningful conversations with businesses based here who want to learn more and be among the first to call the district their home.

“Of course, we have more ground to cover, and we are making great progress. But, what we’ve envisioned -- a vibrant, walkable neighborhood where people work, live, learn, and play -- is at our doorstep. The interest from major businesses to be part of Tampa Bay history is real and growing. A new neighborhood that will be a year round community asset, driving economic growth and opportunity for decades to come, can be ours.”

In May, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County agreed to continue their negotiations with the Rays by approving a non-binding memorandum of understanding that outlined the framework of a potential deal.

No agreement has been reached, but the team said Thursday that the club, college and local officials “continue to work collaboratively” on a funding agreement with the city and county.

“We're committed to getting all the details right,” Babby said in a statement. “This neighborhood will be here for generations of Tampa residents to enjoy and thrive. Every design decision, every tenant partnership, every community commitment, it all matters. We're listening, we're investing, and we're building something that truly belongs to and is uniquely Tampa Bay.”