Hillsborough College trustees are scheduled to decide Tuesday whether to open formal negotiations tied to a proposed Major League Baseball stadium and mixed-use development involving the Tampa Bay Rays.
The item appears on the agenda for a special board meeting Jan. 20 at 4:00 p.m. at the Dr. Gwendolyn W. Stephenson District Administration Center on North Lois Avenue.
At issue is a nonbinding memorandum of understanding that would allow college staff to begin negotiating potential project agreements related to the use of a portion of the Dale Mabry campus.
Approval would not authorize construction or commit the college to a deal. It would allow talks to move forward under defined terms.
A decision about process, not construction
According to agenda materials, Rays representatives approached the college about a possible stadium and associated development that would significantly reshape parts of the Dale Mabry campus.
After preliminary discussions, the team asked the college to enter negotiations toward a final agreement.
The memorandum outlines key principles both sides would want reflected in any binding documents.
It can be terminated by the board at any time, and explicitly states that the college is not required to proceed with the project.
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If approved, the MOU would authorize staff to draft and negotiate formal agreements for future board consideration.
The Rays have proposed reimbursing the college for the costs of preparing those documents. No economic impact is projected at this stage.
The item is presented under multiple sections of the Florida Statutes governing college boards of trustees.
The college president is recommending approval to begin negotiations.
How this fits the Rays’ broader strategy
The timing is notable.
Days earlier, Rays CEO Ken Babby publicly committed to an April 2029 ballpark opening and described the effort as part of a larger mixed-use district rather than a standalone stadium.
“We’re not just building a ballpark,” Babby said in a recent interview. “We’re looking to build a mixed-use development.”
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That framing reflects a development philosophy focused on scale, urgency and long-term economic integration.
The college’s approach, by contrast, emphasizes optionality and board control. The MOU sits at the intersection of those two philosophies.
What approval would change and what it wouldn’t
A board vote Tuesday would not finalize a site, approve financing or lock in a stadium location.
It would move discussions from informal conversations to structured negotiations.
Legal drafting would begin. Cost recovery terms would be defined. Additional board votes would be required if talks move forward.
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For Tampa Bay business leaders, investors and employers tracking regional growth, the vote serves as an early signal.
It indicates whether a major public institution is open to exploring a private development strategy tied to professional sports and long-term land use.
The special meeting agenda also includes the swearing-in of a new trustee and public comment before adjournment.
