At long last, it appears that the Tampa Bay Rays will finally get a new stadium.

I have written many times in the past how the Tampa Bay Rays have been wanting to get a new baseball stadium to replace Tropicana Field, and just last week, the Major League Baseball team received good news from the Hillsborough County Commission, which passed a $2.3 billion stadium deal. Just the day before, the Tampa City Council approved the deal, in hopes of keeping the Rays in the Tampa Bay area.

“I want to express our deepest gratitude to Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa for their leadership, partnership, and willingness to say yes to what for so long had been considered impossible: a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays,” Rays Manager Partner and Co-Chair Patrick Zalupski said in a released statement. “This has been a long and challenging process, and we know that transformational projects rarely come easily.”

It’s a deal that the Rays have waited nearly 20 years to complete, and now they hope to be in a new ballpark in time for the 2029 season. The team has played inside Tropicana Field since the inaugural season of the Rays in 1998, however, the stadium has been in disrepair, and the debate has been fought over whether to refurbish the existing stadium or build a new one.

“The Tampa Bay Rays are grateful for the leadership and support of the City Council members to approve an investment that, when accompanied by the private funding guaranteed by the Rays, will secure the future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay while creating a landmark destination neighborhood that will serve our region for generations,” said Rays CEO Ken Babby in a statement released last Thursday.

In October 2024, Hurricane Milton’s Category 3 winds caused severe damage to Tropicana Field’s roof. The stadium has world’s largest cable-supported domed roof, made of six acres of translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass and supported by 180 miles of cables. The roof was ripped apart on all sides as gusts reached 100–115 mph. After playing the 2025 season at the New York Yankees spring training stadium while repairs were being made to the roof and seating areas, the Rays are back playing at Tropicana Field this season, but the upper level remains closed. The damage and cost of repairs has added additional urgency to reach a deal for a new baseball stadium in the Tampa area.

Earlier this year, the Rays ownership reached an agreement with Hillsborough College to build the new stadium and mixed-use entertainment district on the college campus. The project also includes plans to renovate some of the school’s buildings. The ballpark will be built next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

I attended a game at Tropicana Field about 20 years ago, and at that time, people were complaining about the poor conditions of the field, the concessions and the restrooms. So, obviously, the time has come for a new home for the Rays. I’m looking forward to someday attending a game at their new ballpark.

ORU VOLLEYBALL

There isn’t usually much written about local college volleyball, but I can’t help pointing out the amazing start to the season for the ORU volleyball team. The Golden Eagles have won their first three matches, sweeping the LSU-New Orleans/Nicholls Challenge this past weekend.

It is the best start to the season for the ORU squad since the 2021 season. Considering how the team performed the past three seasons, it’s a remarkable start.

The Golden Eagles didn’t win more than four matches in any of the past three seasons; 2025: 3-25, 2024: 4-25. 2023: 3-25. It’s still too early to tell if they will match or surpass the nine wins, they achieved in the 2022 season, but it’s a good start.

Obviously, the key is winning your conference matches and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament, so these non-conference matches don’t carry as much weight. But, earning a post-season berth is certainly the goal for the Golden Eagles under second year head coach Nolan Albrecht.

TULSA BEACON RADIO

Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. This week, my guest will be Jeff Dunn, author of more than 35 books, with a testimony of being healed of ALS. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.