Orlando emerges as a possible Rays ballpark alternative as Tampa negotiations and lease timelines tighten

A Florida-wide stadium search widens beyond Tampa Bay

Central Florida is again being discussed as a potential destination in the Tampa Bay Rays’ long-running effort to secure a modern home ballpark. The renewed attention on Orlando comes as the franchise pursues parallel conversations in the Tampa area while preparing a near-term return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

The Rays’ stadium outlook changed sharply after Tropicana Field sustained major damage during Hurricane Milton in October 2024, forcing the club to play the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. St. Petersburg has proceeded with a multi-step repair program intended to make Tropicana Field usable for the 2026 season. The work includes a roof replacement and broader interior and systems repairs that city officials have estimated at roughly the mid–$50 million range.

What the Rays are pursuing in Tampa

In Tampa, the club has moved into exploratory negotiations tied to Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry Campus. The college’s board approved a non-binding memorandum that authorizes talks on a redevelopment concept spanning about 113 acres along Dale Mabry Boulevard, near Raymond James Stadium and Steinbrenner Field. The framework contemplates a new ballpark integrated into a mixed-use district, while the college continues operations and ultimately consolidates into a smaller “college district” footprint on the property.

Key financial details—including the balance of private versus public funding—remain unresolved. The memorandum establishes a limited window for negotiations, and local officials have signaled that public participation would be a central issue in any final agreement.

Why Orlando is being mentioned now

Orlando’s inclusion in the discussion reflects two realities: the Rays’ unresolved long-term stadium plan and an organized, well-publicized campaign to bring Major League Baseball to the region. A group branded as the Orlando Dreamers has promoted a proposal centered on a domed stadium concept in the Orange County tourist corridor and has publicly described investor interest and financing discussions tied to both franchise acquisition and stadium construction.

While Orlando does not currently host an MLB team, the market’s population growth, tourism scale, and existing major-league sports presence have positioned it as a frequent reference point whenever Florida baseball realignment is debated.

Constraints that shape all options

• Lease obligations: The Rays’ use agreement at Tropicana Field runs through at least the end of the 2028 season, with provisions that can extend the term if the facility is unusable for additional seasons.

• Stadium economics: Recent estimates for a modern MLB stadium in Florida have clustered at or above $1.3 billion for the ballpark alone, before related infrastructure and district development costs.

• MLB approval process: Any relocation would require league approvals and would unfold alongside regional political negotiations, financing plans, and venue development timelines.

The next decisive milestones are expected to come from the Tampa negotiations timeline, the completion schedule for Tropicana Field repairs, and whether any proposal can assemble a financeable plan that meets public-sector requirements.

For now, the Rays’ path remains multi-track: short-term play in St. Petersburg once repairs are completed, active exploration of a Tampa-area redevelopment concept, and a renewed spotlight on Orlando as an alternative that could intensify if negotiations elsewhere stall.