Hillsborough College approves lease with Rays for stadium

In a major step towards a stadium deal, the Hillsborough College Board of Trustees approved a ground lease with the Tampa Bay Rays in a special meeting on Wednesday. The team and the college signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding in January outlining the plan for a Rays stadium, mixed-use district and new college buildings. While approving the lease is the first binding action from the college, its execution hinges on definitive local government support. On Wednesday morning, the Hillsborough County Commissioners approved a non-binding memorandum with the team. Tampa City Council is expected to hold a vote on Thursday. The lease start date has not been decided yet, but it will end 99 years after the first building is completed. The Rays may request to extend the lease in 10-year increments up to four times. College attorney Jonathan Squires said all the costs associated with the development and running of the property will be paid for by the Rays, not the college. The Rays will pay a base rent of $10 every month, and may opt to prepay part or all of it. The team will cover all costs, expenses and changes of any kind to the property, including capital improvements, according to the lease agreement. They’ll also be responsible for covering utility payments and taxes. The lease gives the Rays permission to “demolish, replace, construct or complete” any buildings on the property. Before the college and the Rays decide on a start date for the lease, they must agree on a master plan and development agreement for the entire property which defines the ballpark and college areas. When that’s decided, it will be added as an amendment on the lease. The Rays must also enter into definitive agreements with Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa and the Drew Park Community Redevelopment Area before they can decide on a lease start date. The lease is also subject to MLB approval. The lease allows the Rays to separate out the “Ballpark Property” and transfer its ownership to Hillsborough County. But ownership will go back to the college if the area is not used as a ballpark for longer than six months, with the exception of time during casualty events or renovations. Covenants, conditions and restrictions will establish common areas on the property and rules that govern them, Squires said. The guidelines would prevent other educational institutions from competing against the college in the mixed-use district.Before the vote, a few community members said they were worried about losing access to the Hillsborough College tennis center. Others, like student activities coordinator and Student Government Association advisor Dylan Booth, voiced concerns about money. He said he worries the $150 million the state pledged to rebuild the Dale Mabry campus is not enough to rebuild the Patel Allied Health Building, redevelop other campus buildings and pay rental costs for portable trailers. The college should receive $150 million from Tallahassee and another $150 million from the Rays, he said. Catherine Korman, another student activities coordinator, said the college, rather than the Rays, should set the rules and timelines. “These vague references to sports medicine programs, which we don’t have and would need to go through accreditation, as you’re all very well aware of, as well as workforce development, are not good enough promises for our institution to disrupt our flagship campus, especially since none of those promises would bear fruit for several years, if at all,” she said. Board member Clay Hollis called the plan a generational investment into the community. “The purpose of this board is to protect the interests of the college,” he said. “And this deal is good for the college.” The vote “unlocks the door” for students to access career pathways and workforce opportunities while creating modern amenities for the Dale Mabry campus, Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a statement thanking the college. ”We look forward to continuing our partnership as we work together to deliver a project that will benefit students, fans, and the broader community for generations to come,” he said. The Tampa Bay Times Education Hub reports on Florida’s schools and universities and the students they serve. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund by clicking here .

Hillsborough College approves lease with Rays for stadium

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Hillsborough College approves lease with Rays for stadium

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