The Daily Dig
A selection committee has ranked AECOM Hunt, Turner Construction, and HORUS Construction Services as the top choice for Construction Manager at Risk on the Tampa Bay Rays' new $2.3 billion ballpark. The committee announced the final order of preference on August 17 after a public meeting at Hillsborough College, where members reviewed scores from four competing teams before voting unanimously to advance the top-ranked firm.
The final order places AECOM Hunt/Turner/HORUS first, followed by Mortenson/Beck/Envision, then Gilbane/Barton Malow, then H.J. Russell & Company. If the Rays can't reach a fair price with the top firm, negotiations move to the next name on the list.
Financing isn't settled, but the framework is further along than a simple approval question suggests. Hillsborough County and Tampa already approved a non-binding memorandum of understanding in May that caps public funding at $976 million, with the Rays covering the remaining $1.27 billion plus any construction overruns. What's left is turning that framework into binding agreements, and Tampa City Council has complicated the path. In late July, the council voted 4-3 against transmitting a required land-use amendment to the state, stalling part of the mixed-use development tied to the stadium.
AECOM Hunt already has history in this market. The firm rebuilt Tropicana Field's roof after Hurricane Milton damaged it in October 2024, and AECOM Hunt and Turner are currently building major venues in Nashville and Cleveland as well. HORUS Construction Services, based in Tampa, adds local experience to the joint venture.
The ballpark will anchor a mixed-use development on Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus in Tampa's Westshore District, targeted for completion by the Rays' 2029 opening day.
Snapshot:
Project Name: Tampa Bay Rays Ballpark Project
Location: Hillsborough County, Florida (Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus, Westshore District, Tampa)
Owner/Client: Rays Baseball Club, LLC d/b/a Tampa Bay Rays
Top Ranked CMAR: AECOM Hunt / Turner / HORUS Construction Services (joint venture)
Other Competing Firms: Mortenson / Beck / Envision; Gilbane / Barton Malow; H.J. Russell & Company
Total Project Budget: Approximately $2.3 billion
Public Funding Cap (per May MOU): $976 million ($796 million Hillsborough County, $180 million City of Tampa)
Rays' Contribution (per May MOU): $1.27 billion plus all construction overruns
Seating Capacity: Approximately 28,000 (per RFQ notice) / 31,000 (per Rays' own website, per separate reporting)
Facility Type: Enclosed, fixed roof, climate controlled ballpark within a mixed-use development
Project Footprint: More than 100 acres
RFQ Issued: June 29, 2026
Final Selection Posted: August 17, 2026
Public Meeting Location: Hillsborough College, District Administration Building, Room 102, Tampa, FL
Target Completion: Rays' 2029 opening day
Financing Status: Non-binding MOU approved by both bodies in May; binding final agreements still outstanding
Outstanding Land Use Issue: Tampa City Council voted 4-3 in July against transmitting a required land-use amendment to the state
Protest Window: 48 hours for notice of intent, 5 business days for formal written protest
TheJobWalk Thoughts
This is a conditional win, not a signed contract, and the remaining work isn't purely financial. The MOU framework is already approved. What's stalled is a land-use amendment Tampa City Council refused to send to the state, which is a planning fight, not a funding fight. Subs and suppliers should read that distinction carefully before assuming this is close to a mobilized site.
AECOM Hunt and Turner now have four major league venues moving at once, in Nashville, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and potentially Tampa. That volume means their bench for specialty trades is likely getting stretched thin across markets, which could open doors for regional subs who can move fast once packages open here.
Ken Atwater's comments on local workforce use are worth watching closely once a guaranteed maximum price gets set. Community labor commitments raised during a selection process tend to show up later in project labor agreements, so Florida-based trades should treat that signal as a reason to get in front of AECOM Hunt/Turner/HORUS now.
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