The Daily Dig
The Tampa Bay Rays have started the search for a construction manager at risk. The team wants to build its proposed $2.3 billion ballpark in Tampa's Drew Park neighborhood. The request for qualifications was issued June 29, and firms have until July 28 to submit their statement of qualifications. A selection announcement is targeted for Aug. 14, with initial site work expected to begin that same day. The timeline signals the Rays want a contractor moving fast.
The stadium would sit on roughly 130 acres now occupied by Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus. The surrounding development is expected to include a relocated college campus. The 2026-27 state budget Gov. Ron DeSantis signed includes $50 million toward the college and related infrastructure. The ballpark itself is planned as a fixed-roof, climate-controlled facility around 1.3 million gross square feet. It's designed for about 28,000 seats, with room to expand for special events.
The RFQ breaks down how that square footage will be used. Concourses and circulation space account for 350,000 to 450,000 square feet. Concessions, kitchens and team stores take up 60,000 to 100,000 square feet. Locker rooms, clubhouses and training areas run 70,000 to 100,000 square feet. The scope also includes a media center with a press box and broadcast facilities, plus the aquarium currently housed in center field at Tropicana Field.
The project will use a construction manager at risk model. The selected firm negotiates a guaranteed maximum price and takes on the risk of budget overruns. That firm is expected to competitively bid subcontractor and supplier packages before finalizing its own contract. The RFQ also asks bidders to describe how they intend to engage the surrounding community and use local subcontractors. Completion is targeted for Dec. 31, 2028, with final completion set for March 1, 2029. That's ahead of MLB's 2029 opening day.
Snapshot:
Project: New Tampa Bay Rays ballpark
Delivery method: Construction manager at risk (CMAR)
Location: Drew Park neighborhood, Tampa, on Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus
Site size: Approximately 130 acres
Estimated project value: $2.3 billion (ballpark); part of an $8 billion mixed-use development
Rays' committed investment: More than $1.25 billion
Public financing sought: $976 million (Hillsborough County and City of Tampa)
Building size: Approximately 1.3 million gross square feet
Seating capacity: Approximately 28,000, with special event expandability
RFQ issued: June 29, 2026
Statement of qualifications due: July 28, 2026
CM selection announcement: Aug. 14, 2026
Anticipated notice to proceed: Aug. 14, 2026
Occupancy target: Dec. 31, 2028
Final completion target: March 1, 2029
Architect: Populous
Approvals required: Hillsborough County Commission, Tampa City Council
Related public funding: $50 million in state funds for Hillsborough College relocation and infrastructure
TheJobWalk Thoughts
A same day notice to proceed on Aug. 14 means the winning CM needs permits, insurance and funding largely in place before selection is even final. Bonding capacity will likely factor in too, though the RFQ doesn't spell that out directly. That's a heavier lift than most public stadium procurements. Those pieces typically get sorted out over the weeks after selection, not before.
The RFQ's call for a local subcontractor and community engagement plan matters, even without a stated scoring weight, because it shapes how the CM will structure early trade packages. Regional subs and suppliers, especially in steel, roofing and building envelope work, have a window right now. The smart move is getting in front of likely CM finalists before Aug. 14. Waiting for a formal bid invite after the contract is signed means starting from behind.
A Dec. 31, 2028 occupancy target followed by final completion two months later leaves little slack for closeout and punch list work. On a building this size, that's a tight window. A compressed back end like this usually means the CM pushes hard on subcontractor float throughout the job, not just at the finish. Anyone pricing trade packages should build that pressure into their schedule assumptions from day one. It will show up in the contract language long before it shows up on site.
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
