Hines has been announced as the developer of a new 8-million-square-foot mixed-use district and Major League Baseball stadium development in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The new home of the mercurial Tampa Bay Rays franchise is part of a larger $6.5 billion investment in the region that will expand over twenty years to include 4,800 residential units, another 1,200 units of workforce housing, 600 senior residences, a 750-room hotel, 4,000-seat concert venue, and 1.4 million square feet worth of office space, in addition to the 30,000-seat stadium. Another 50,000 square feet of civic space will be added along with a minimum of 90,000 square feet worth of conference space, all of which is bookended by the new Carter G. Woodson African American Museum Of Florida.

Renderings made public in this week’s announcement from the club reveal a terraced exterior that’s meant to “bring the outside in” with activated concourse levels lined in biophilic elements and framed by large windows. The enclosed, pavilion-like structure will be fully air-conditioned, with the playing surface framed by the roof’s steel structural support system, LED accents, and a three-tiered deck that extends across the outfield. An architect for the $1.3 billion ballpark has yet to be named.

According to the team: “The entire ballpark will be intentionally designed as a gathering place where everyone feels welcome on event and non-event days, uniting the Tampa Bay region and connecting diverse, multi-generational fans.”

In terms of the fan experience, the development promises a “block-party” type atmosphere surrounding the stadium that will be accessible during home games. An aquarium exhibit and multiple kid zones are also included. The Rays say the new ballpark is projected to be ready in time for Opening Day of the 2028 season.

The Rays ownership had been threatening a possible move to another market part-time for years before apparently gaining confidence that the local Tampa and St. Petersburg governments would finance at least half of the project. In a statement, St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch added: “We are duty-bound with our intentional efforts to honor the broken promises made to the Historic Gas Plant community, an incredibly special place that my own family called home” in reference to the Black population that had been forced to relocate from the site in the 1980s under the guise of many “broken promises.”

Construction on the development is expected to begin in late-2024 and continue in two phases. More information about the team's plan can be found here.