Hillsborough County Commission Approves Rays' New Stadium Plan

The Hillsborough County Commission approved the Tampa Bay Rays' new stadium plan, and CEO Ken Babby issued a statement in response, per the club's official account.

The county vote was the next step after the Tampa City Council approved the same stadium deal — a $2.3 billion project — in a 4-3 vote days earlier. With both bodies now on record in favor, the project known as @RaysForeverHome has cleared two significant governmental hurdles in quick succession.

What remains unconfirmed

The club's post links to Babby's full statement but does not detail its contents beyond identifying him as the source. The specific terms of the county's approval, any remaining procedural steps, and a construction or opening timeline have not been reported in the material available.

What to watch

The dual approvals represent meaningful forward motion for a franchise that has spent years navigating stadium uncertainty. Whether additional votes, financing milestones, or other governmental sign-offs remain on the checklist is not yet clear from available reporting.