TAMPA, Fla. — Trustees at Hillsborough College approved a long-term ground lease on Wednesday tied to the proposed Tampa Bay Rays’ multi-billion-dollar stadium project.
The vote came just hours after Hillsborough County commissioners approved a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Rays in a 5-to-2 vote.
The proposed stadium project would bring a new Rays ballpark and mixed-use development to the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College.
Under the lease approved Wednesday, the Rays would gain long-term control of portions of the property needed for the project. An attorney for the college told trustees the lease includes an initial 99-year term, along with options for additional extensions.
Trustees described the proposal as a major opportunity for both the college and the surrounding community.
“The purpose of this board is to protect the interests of the college, and this deal is good for the college,” trustee Clay Hollis said after the vote.
Still, the meeting included public comment both for and against the project.
Some speakers urged trustees to support the proposal, calling it a transformational opportunity for Tampa and the college. Others questioned whether the school would receive sufficient funding to properly redevelop the campus and raised concerns about the pace of the process.
Critics also worried about the future of existing campus amenities, including pickleball courts and the tennis center.
College President Ken Atwater defended the proposal, repeatedly emphasizing that students would remain the school’s top priority throughout the process.
“It will always be on the students,” Atwater said. “We will ensure that we maintain our quality learning environment.”
Atwater also argued the partnership with the Rays could create additional opportunities for students through internships, apprenticeships, and workforce development programs tied to the broader redevelopment project.
“We’re not changing anything,” Atwater said. “We’re only doing an enhancement of what we’re doing by having a partner like the Rays.”
The Rays celebrated the vote in a statement released shortly afterward.
“[Wednesday’s] unanimous vote by the Hillsborough College Board of Trustees to approve the ground lease with the Tampa Bay Rays unlocks the door for the college’s 46,000 students to access meaningful career pathways and real-world workforce opportunities with world-class organizations and businesses while transforming the Dale Mabry campus with brand new, modern facilities,” Rays CEO Ken Babby wrote in a statement.
Despite Wednesday’s approvals, the broader stadium proposal still faces several major hurdles.
The proposed project carries a roughly $2.3 billion price tag, including nearly $1 billion in public investment from Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, and the Community Redevelopment Agency.
The college is also still seeking approximately $150 million in potential state funding to help redevelop the campus.
The Tampa City Council and the city’s CRA board are both expected to consider the agreement on Thursday.
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