The Tampa Bay Rays announced Friday that they have partnered with global real estate, development, and property management company Hines on a proposal that would redevelop the Tropicana Field site and include a new state of the art stadium for the team to play in.
The proposal, which needed to by submitted to the city of St. Petersburg by Friday morning, would use the 86 area site located in the Gas Plant neighborhood of St. Petersburg for residential units, retail space, and a 2,500 person entertainment venue along with a new domed ballpark that would be located on the eastern side of the site.
“Together with the Rays, we have the opportunity to create a city-defining, diversified and inclusive placemaking village, with their new ballpark at its heart,” said Michael Harrison, senior managing director at Hines. “We have coordinated extensively with the Rays on the vision and master-planned design and infrastructure necessary for the stadium, which is essential to the long-term vitality and economic viability of the entire project. We look forward to bringing our extensive experience and lessons learned from Hines’ similar projects around the globe, as well as our track record of seamless integration with the surrounding community and neighborhoods to St Petersburg.”
“For decades, Hines has demonstrated the knowledge, expertise, and reliability to deliver complex projects of this size and magnitude,” said Rays president Matt Silverman. “Hines has been acquainted with this site for fifteen years, and we know that Hines will be here fifteen years from now, fulfilling its promises and vision for the Historic Gas Plant District. St. Petersburg deserves a world-class development partner with a track record of steering projects through the inevitable economic cycles we will face. With Hines leading this effort, we gain greater certainty of quality and timely completion. Together we can create a vibrant, equitable neighborhood that will be a wonderful home for Rays baseball for generations to come.”
The four proposals submitted before the deadline — the one from the Rays and Hines along with proposals from Sugar Hill Community Partners, 50 Plus 1 Sports, and Restoration Associates — will have public comment in January, and mayor Ken Welch and the cit council will make a decision afterward.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
