The new proprietors of the Tampa Bay Rays have declared that constructing a stadium for the team is their utmost priority. During their inaugural press conference, they expressed their desire for the team to remain in Tampa Bay, although they did not specify an exact location.

Patrick Zalupski said he wants to bring something like Atlanta’s Battery to Tampa Bay. With retail, hotels, bars, restaurants, and a concert venue.

“We believe the Battery sets the standard of excellence for what we wish to establish here in Tampa Bay,” stated Zalupski. “It’s essential for today’s major league baseball in order to achieve success. Without generating that kind of revenue, competing with the major markets would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible.”

The question is, where will it go? To the city that had a deal signed, but the team’s former owners walked away from?

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch wants conversations with the new owners and hopes they recognize the history in St. Pete.

“I am interested in understanding their criteria. The mention of 100 acres is new and could exclude the historic gas plant, but we are considering other possibilities,” commented Welch.

The new owners said they recognize the fatigue in the area. Economic development experts said they should work to remove any obstacles.

“We have previous experience to consider with the situation in St. Petersburg and the connections they’ve established in Pinellas County. This appears to be a chance to move closer to most fans and start anew,” explained John Boyd, an expert in economic development.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that the chair of the Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees indicated they engaged in preliminary talks with the team about using its North Dale Mabry Campus as a prospective stadium location. However, the chair mentioned no formal property proposal has been made.

Coming on this side of the Bay could see its challenges as well.

“The fact that only 4% of land in Tampa is available for use implies we might need to consider acquiring existing buildings or potentially not being situated in the city, which would be unfortunate,” remarked Tampa City Council Member Lynn Hurktak. “We just completed our budget and there were numerous projects we hoped to accomplish but couldn’t due to financial constraints. This is an essential part of the discussion.”

Zalupski said they are looking at a few spots with the goal of 100-plus acres and to have the team playing there in 2029.

“We want a great location and as much land as we can get,” said Zalupski.

Zalupski admitted to the ambitious nature of the project but said he is confident it can be done.

Boyd said if the owners can settle on a site, get the approvals and funding needed by the end of the year, he thinks they could do it.

“I think so. And winning cities and winning counties move with the speed of business,” said Boyd. “The Rays’ valuation remains largely stagnant. You look at teams that have really skyrocketed in valuation because of these new revenue streams, and that is what a new stadium, a new mixed-use stadium, will bring to this new Rays ownership.”