Rays Stadium looking for a New Edge in Tampa with HCC
- Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees approve MOU with Rays
- MOU is a non-binding framework to explore possibilities.
- Discussion of campus location and its proximity to:
- Raymond James Stadium (Buccaneers)
- Steinbrenner Field (Yankees)
- Amalie Arena (Lightning)
- Community reactions, faculty concerns & housing cost questions.
- 180-day timeline for the Rays to return with details.
- Governor comments on infrastructure support (but not direct stadium funding)
- Why this site could help build a centralized Tampa sports district similar to Atlanta’s Battery
Transportation, Development & Big-Picture Vision
- Traffic & parking comparisons vs. Tropicana Field
- Transportation planning
- Innovation Edge concept & mixed-use development potential
- Broader impact beyond baseball: events, tourism, NCAA tournaments, & international visibility
- Differentiating Tampa Bay from Orlando and other Florida destinations.
Rays FanFest Block Party (Valentine’s Day)
- FanFest to be held in the Parking Lot of the Tropicana Field outdoors
- Block Party - Free parking, block party atmosphere, and fan-player interaction.
- Favorite FanFest memories:
- Player scavenger hunts
- Ping-pong with Rays player
- Photo ops with Blake Snell & Tyler Glasnow
- Fans will be excited to meet this year at FanFest: Gavin Lux, Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, Cedric Mullins, Steven Matz, Steven Wilson, Richie Palacios, & Justin Henry Malloy
Rays Roster & Player Development
- More “team-centric” Rays roster
- Ken Waldichuk - Pitch mix comparisons to Garrett Cleavinger
- Trade speculation: Johnny DeLuca, Taylor Walls, & White Sox connections
MLB Free Agency & Trades
- Cody Bellinger - signs with the Yankees (5 years, $167M):
- Concerns about Cody's age, cost, & long-term value.
- Mets trade for Luis Robert Jr.:
- Younger, cheaper, high-upside move
- Risk-mitigated contract structure
- Why the Mets’ move may age better than the Yankees’
- Yankees’ roster flexibility and potential follow-up trades
Hall of Fame Talk
- Congrats to: Andruw Jones, Carlos Beltrán, Jeff Kent
- Rare moment: 2 elite center fielders entering together
- Looking to 2027 ballot: Buster Posey, John Lester, Chase Utley. Bobby Abreu
- Vote dynamics shift as names fall off the ballot
MLB Parity & CBA Discussion
- Tim Dierkes’ article:
“MLB Parity Possible Without a Salary Cap” (MLB Trade Rumors)
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/author/tim-dierkes - Why this matters heading into the next Collective Bargaining Agreement
Final Thoughts
- Rays expectations may be more grounded than in recent years—but opportunity remains
- New ownership energy, patience in baseball operations & long-term vision
- The next 180 days could shape the future of baseball in Tampa Bay
Join the conversation!
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Rays Up!
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