Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday approved the conveyance of 22 acres of state-owned non-conservation land at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, advancing negotiations tied to a proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium.
The action, taken by the Cabinet sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, authorizes the transfer of the land to the college and modifies deed restrictions to allow redevelopment tied to a potential stadium district.
The vote moves beyond public endorsement and places defined acreage into the formal transaction process.
DeSantis said he toured the campus before backing the proposal and described portions of the property as underutilized, with large areas currently devoted to surface parking.
“There’s a lot that needs to be done on that campus,” DeSantis said. “Rather than pour money into rehabbing old buildings, why don’t you reimagine it in a good way?”
Land positioned for a stadium district
State officials determined that redeveloping the land would provide greater public benefit than retaining it in its current state-owned condition.
Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson joined DeSantis in approving the measure.
The acreage represents the state-controlled portion of a broader 113-acre redevelopment concept the college has been exploring with the Rays ownership group. The larger proposal envisions a stadium integrated with academic facilities and surrounding mixed-use development.
READ: TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS
DeSantis said the site’s potential depends on creating a destination environment rather than relying solely on baseball attendance.
“There’s an economics to this,” he said. “You’ve got to draw people with other things.”
He pointed to nearby sports assets, including Steinbrenner Field and Raymond James Stadium, and said a coordinated development could reshape that section of Tampa.
Master plan update required
The Cabinet’s approval includes conditions.
Within one year, Hillsborough College must update its campus master plan to reflect integration of academic operations with a potential Major League Baseball facility. Existing government leases on the property must remain in place unless modified through agreement tied to the project.
The state has owned the land since acquiring it from the federal government in 1947. Since 1968, it has been held or leased to the college and other state agencies.
READ: TAMPA BAY REAL ESTATE NEWS
DeSantis framed the move as a way to allow the college to negotiate directly with the Rays on terms that could reposition the campus.
“I’m much more concerned with making sure HCC goes to the next level,” he said, referring to Hillsborough College. He said the project could connect students to internship and workforce opportunities tied to hospitality, sports management and related industries.
Financing and local approvals remain
Tuesday’s vote does not approve a stadium agreement, financing structure or construction timeline.
Any deal would require participation from the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County. The Rays ownership group, which acquired the team last year, has indicated it is seeking a public-private partnership.
The Florida Senate’s proposed budget includes $50 million to help the college relocate facilities associated with the redevelopment. That funding is not included in the House spending plan.
READ: TAMPA BAY BUSINESS NEWS
DeSantis vetoed a $35 million appropriation in 2022 for a Rays spring training facility in Pasco County, citing opposition at the time to using state funds for professional sports facilities.
On Tuesday, he characterized the Dale Mabry proposal as part of a broader campus reconfiguration rather than a standalone stadium subsidy.
The Rays have pursued a new stadium for more than a decade. The team currently plays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, which sustained significant hurricane damage in 2024, forcing the club to temporarily relocate games to Steinbrenner Field.
The land action narrows the Rays’ potential pathways and signals a formal state-level commitment after years of stalled stadium efforts under prior ownership.
With state-controlled acreage now positioned for transfer, attention shifts to financing commitments from Tampa and Hillsborough County. Those negotiations will determine whether the proposed stadium at the Dale Mabry campus advances beyond land positioning into a binding development agreement.
Stay Informed
Stay up to date on Tampa Bay business news, executive profiles and the companies shaping the region.