Rays Release New Renderings for Proposed MLB Stadium in Video, Includes Retractable Batter's Eye

The new home of the Tampa Bay Rays is starting to take shape.

The team released new renderings for the proposed stadium on Wednesday, which features a "first-of-its-kind transparent roof" and a grand plaza that's nearly an acre in size. Tampa Bay's famous Ray Touch Tank will also be included in the new ballpark.

The stadium will also feature a retractable batter's eye, something no other ballpark has. The proposed renderings include just over 30,000 seats for an "intentionally intimate" feeling. That's slightly bigger than the old Tropicana Field, which has a capacity of just over 25,000.

While the new stadium has yet to be fully approved, the team agreed to a memorandum of understanding with Hillsborough County on the new ballpark in May. The proposed stadium would have an estimated cost of $2.3 billion.

"The Tampa Bay Rays are delighted to announce that we have reached a Memorandum of Understanding on a new ballpark proposal, working alongside staff at Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa," Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby said in a statement. "We are extremely grateful for the commitment and spirit of partnership demonstrated by all parties throughout this important process and occasion for our community."

The Rays moved to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg in 1998. The stadium's roof was destroyed during Hurricane Milton in 2024, forcing them to relocate to the New York Yankees' spring training facility during the 2025 campaign.

The Rays returned to Tropicana Field this season after the city spent nearly $60 million to refurbish the ballpark with a new roof, new turf and new lights. 

The new stadium will move the team from St. Petersburg to the Westshore District of Tampa on Hillsborough College's campus. The team is aiming to move to the new stadium by the 2029 season.