Photo via MLB.com

Rays to open new ballpark and District Experience Center in early 2027

The Tampa Bay Rays have set an early 2027 opening for their new **Rays Ballpark Experience Center**, a first-of-its-kind facility designed to give fans and partners a tangible preview of the team’s future home before its 2029 debut. Located at **1111 North Westshore Boulevard** in Tampa’s Westshore City Center—a space leased by Franklin Street and owned by Ally Capital Group—the 15,000-square-foot center will blend public and private experiences.

About one-third of the space will be open to the public, featuring interactive exhibits, digital ballpark tours, and exclusive Rays memorabilia, while the rest will offer appointment-only, high-tech simulations for season ticket holders and sponsors to explore seating, hospitality, and district amenities. The center underscores the Rays’ vision for a mixed-use district surrounding the ballpark, blending retail, offices, and hospitality into a unified fan ecosystem.

Rays CEO **Ken Babby** framed the Experience Center as a cornerstone of the team’s ‘Forever is Now’ philosophy, allowing fans to ‘see and feel’ their future in the new ballpark years in advance. The facility will also showcase activation opportunities for sponsors, demonstrating how the ballpark’s design will enhance fan engagement and brand visibility.

With construction milestones progressing—including recent financing approvals—the Experience Center marks a key step toward transforming Tampa’s skyline and redefining the Rays’ connection to their community.

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