TAMPA, Fla.— The Tampa Bay Rays earns support from Police Benevolent Association and announce their commitment to relocate the Tampa Police Department District One station to the proposed new ballpark and mixed-use district.
The current District One office, located at 3818 W. Tampa Bay Blvd., is an aging facility with significant deferred maintenance. As the Rays continue working with the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, the Tampa Sports Authority, the Community Redevelopment Agency Board, Hillsborough College, and community stakeholders to advance the proposed ballpark and district, the organization is committed to ensuring public safety remains central to the project’s planning and long-term success.
The Rays are committed to relocating the District One office onto the proposed mixed-use development and ballpark site, providing law enforcement with a modern facility positioned within a future district expected to serve residents, students, visitors, businesses, and fans.
“From the beginning of this process, we have taken a ‘Do No Harm’ approach to public safety, ensuring this project does not take funding away from police, fire, emergency management, or other critical public priorities,” said Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby. “But we also believe this is an opportunity to go one step further. We are fully committed to relocating the District One police station onto the development site, because public safety must be built into the foundation of this project. As we work toward a Forever Home for the Rays, we want to ensure the men and women who protect our community have a seat at the table and the resources they need to serve this growing district and the surrounding neighborhoods.”
The announcement follows last week’s release of a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the framework for a new Rays ballpark and mixed-use district, which includes a “Do No Harm” provision to ensure existing public safety funding and committed police, fire, and emergency management priorities are protected.
“The Tampa Police Benevolent Association commends the Rays commitment to keep public safety at the forefront of this process,” said President of the Tampa Police Benevolent Association Brandon Barclay. “We support the Tampa Bay Rays proposal and encourage our elected officials at the County and City to move it forward this week. The proposal protects public safety funding and ensures the success of the district will generate benefits for the entire community. We appreciate the Rays’ commitment to a modern District One station that would better serve officers, residents, businesses, and visitors in this growing area.”
The proposed ballpark and mixed-use district are envisioned as a transformational project for the Tampa Bay region, bringing together a new home for the Rays, a revitalized Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus, new jobs, economic development, community benefits, and infrastructure improvements.
The Rays will continue working with local and state partners, law enforcement representatives, and community stakeholders as plans advance.