Hillsborough College has been in a constant state of uncertainty — especially at the Dale Mabry campus — since Jan. 20, when the Board of Trustees signed a Memorandum of Under- standing with the Tampa Bay Rays.
For supporters, it is a scene right out of “Field of Dreams”, but for others, it is the nightmare of the unknown.
The Memorandum of Understanding is primarily about placing the deal on the agenda and opening negotiations. Greg Celes- tan, chairman of the Board of Trustees, explained it this way: “The memorandum of understanding is just that. They [the Rays] still have to come up with the financing and funding. We have no part in that. So when they come up with the financing and get approval from the city and the county for the financing, then they can come back to us and we can finalize a lease for their use of the land.”
The Tampa Bay Rays plan to build a new stadium in the Tampa Bay area. The chosen location is a 113- acre parcel of land bordering Louis Avenue and Dale Mabry Highway — where the Dale Mabry campus is located — plus 22 acres recently transferred by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet to Hillsborough College to make the deal possible.
The project would consist of four new areas: Champions Quarter (housing the new stadium), Innovation Edge Featuring Hillsborough College (the new Dale Mabry campus), The Canopy (a parkside neighborhood) and The Row (a commercial area). The Rays’ proposal is ambitious. Beyond the stadium, the development would include hotels, offices, restaurants, residential spaces and recreational areas.
The project would require demolishing the current Dale Mabry campus. The Rays would like the new stadium completed by spring 2029, which means if the deal is approved, demolition could begin as early as this summer or fall.
The deal has the support of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said, “As somebody who grew up in this area, I believe the Tampa Bay area needs to have the first chance to make this work, because I know there are other parts of Florida that want it too.”
Since the MOU was approved, the Rays have 180 days to present a finalized proposal, including construction and financial plans; without one, the deal could collapse. So far, 48 days have passed and the clock is ticking. While the final proposal has not yet been presented, on Tuesday, March 3, Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby held a town hall to present the ongoing plans for the project. He said the team is committed to paying at least half of the estimated $2.3 billion cost, with the rest coming from the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County. The project would also create an estimated 40,000 construction jobs. Many students remain concerned about the lack of information regarding who will pay for demolition, the construction of a new campus, temporary facilities and staffing during the transition.
Celestan said negotiations are still pending and will be placed on the agenda once the Rays present their final proposal. He also said the Board of Trustees will always prioritize students. He said, “Our job as the Board of Trustees is to safeguard the finances of the college. Any proposal that comes to us, we will examine it. Is this right for the college? Is it right for the students? How will it disrupt our operations? Can we still continue to educate everyone with minimal disruption?” When construction starts, where will the Dale Mabry campus operate?
Dr. Paige Niehaus, the campus president, has assured students that the administration is preparing for any outcome. “We have the mindset that this is happening, so we need to be ready to move temporarily,” she said. The plan involves moving the campus to temporary facilities, including portable buildings on lesser-used areas of the property. The main goal is to maintain the campus’s current offerings, including offices for staff and faculty, computer labs and recreational spaces. Officials have also said no jobs will be cut during the transition.
Celestan also cited financial incentives: “We were interested because they told us that they would build brand-new facilities for the school. Many of the buildings on the Dale Mabry campus were built in the 1970s, and we have maintenance needs that would cost between $30 million and $40 million over the next few years.” According to Celestan, the deal could result in one of the most modern college campuses in Florida. By partnering with the Rays, the college could gain national recognition; college sports teams could use the stadium facilities, and students could benefit from new opportunities for education and employment.
Echo Durham, a student leader from the Dale Mabry Student Government Association, conducted a survey to gather student opinion on the deal. Many students expressed concern about being moved to portable classrooms, construction distractions, the timeline for completing the new campus, reduced services, parking and the possible dissolution of the campus community. Some students said they might leave, which could cause enrollment to drop.
Durham and several student leaders — Natalia de Sequeria, Abry Symlar and Dyshawn Lawton — attended the most recent Board of Trustees meeting to represent student voices. They spoke under the theme “education over entertainment.” Durham said, “I speak for those who are silenced when going against something we, as students, don’t agree with. That’s what I feel is my duty in life and as a student of HC.” The situation remains in the early stages, with many details to be determined, but there is a great deal of attention to the campus’ future in the coming days.