ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Though no date was announced for shovels in the ground, the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed stadium in Hillsborough county appears moving forward.
On Aug. 17, a select committee of Rays executives, the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County, named AECOM Hunt-Turner, an Indianapolis-based construction company, as contractors for the facility. Site for the stadium is proposed within the present confines of Hillsborough College and across the Dale Mabry, a heavily traveled road within the city of Tampa, from Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Beating out three others for the project, Brian Schrems, project executive for AECOM, told reporters, “for this type of project, you need the help of the entire community.” Included are governmental officials, Rays personnel, fans, and those companies affected within the infrastructure.
The stadium, an enclosed 28,000-seat venue, carries a $2.3 billion price tag and a total to exceed for the area. Included in the overall project is construction of facilities on the college campus and well as upgrades to roads, water and other public facilities.
“(AECOM) experience and the ability to do this type of building looked like it carried a lot of weight,” said committee member Ken Atwater and president of Hillsborough College in affirming the decision. “All those who gave presentations did a great job but, as usual, there were others who did an outstanding job. I think that was obvious with the vote.”
The question of timing now becomes paramount.
The construction calendar is about three years from the first shovel in the ground until the Rays take the field. While moving back into Tropicana Field after repairs due to hurricane damage this season, the Rays have a three-year commitment to the Trop in St. Petersburg. Now, the timing is down to two and one-half years and sands continue to shift through the construction hourglass.
AECOM is noted for construction and repair of facilities, including assisting in the repairs to Tropicana, Field, improvement to Lucus Oil Stadum in Indianapolis, Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University and new stadium construction for the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, company revenues were listed at $3.2 billion and an increase of 2 percent from the previous year.
“There is a very aggressive timeline for us, too, here at the college,” Atwater said. “As soon as it decided who will do the work, the easier it is to get started.”
Funding for the project still must be resolved.
On to October? … With games remaining toward dramatic conclusions for post-season spots, emotion, intensity and passion now dominate.
In that quest for October glory, scoreboard-watching becomes fashionable. At the same time, participants deny peeking at those electronic numbers. Most do become involved in the pursuits of other clubs.
Coming into play Aug. 17, there are nine teams in both leagues within 3 ½ games of a wild card spot. Tighter in the American League, five teams are within 1 and one-half games of a coveted postseason spot. The Baltimore Orioles, after making one of the most significant deals during the recent trading deadline, were sitting in one of the four final wild card positions.
In this quest, the word “separation” does not appear in the O’s vocabulary. Instead, the blinders are on for success at the present moment.
“We’re trying to get into the playoffs and not trying to create any separation,” said Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz during a mid-August series against the Tampa Bay Rays “Every game means a lot. When you lose a game, it’s a big loss and when you win, it’s a big win. That is where we are right now That all you can ask for is to play meaningful baseball down the stretch.”
Should the Orioles remain competitive, the final week of the season could portend their fate. Their final three games are scheduled for Yankee Stadium and the previous six at home. This includes three with Milwaukee and three with Toronto.
If pitching and defense represents a catalyst to success, the Orioles, during that mid-August series against the AL East division-leading Rays, showed by an effective bullpen is essential. In capturing the opening three games of an important mid-August set with the Rays, Baltimore handed Tampa Bay three consecutive losses. The three defeats were the most sustained consecutively by the Rays in over a month.
What? Me Worry? – For the Rays to continue toward that post-season rendezvous, contributions are needed across the board. One player on the bubble is DH Yandy Diaz.
Reliable and steady, Diaz’s bat is a necessary and vital component in the Rays quest to secure October baseball. Yet, the former AL batting champion (in 2023) appears to have fallen upon hard times.
Since July 1, his batting average and production have declined. Yes, there appears little concern.
“Thought he came out this on the (August 9-0) road trip and swinging the bat really well,” offered Kevin Cash, the Rays manager. “He sets the bar really high. Everyone expects him to go 2-for-5 every night. That’s probably not fair or realistic. He continues to work and refine the timing. The more times we get him up to the plate, we’ll be better for it.”
On July 1, Diaz, at 35 years-old out of Cuba, was hitting .329 and that’s when the decline began. By July 31, he was down to .302 and through July, we managed just four doubles, three homers and knocked in 10 runs in 26 games,
In August, he’s level off and hit .304 at the beginning of the month, As of Aug. 16, he was batting .302 for 13 August games. That includes two doubles, two homers and six runs batted in.
On the diamond … The Rays showed why good teams can manufacture runs and pull-out important games. Down 6-4 and threatened to be swept in four by Baltimore at home, Tampa Bay rallied for three in the seventh and pulled out a 7-6 victory over the Orioles on Aug. 17. What made the win particularly momentous was the return of lefty Shane McClanahan, who was side-lined with back issue from July 31 to Aug. 17. Though he did not figure in the decision, the veteran threw 57 pitches, 35 for strikes, and on an obvious pitch count limitation. Dismissing the factors of durability and longevity, McClanahan said that “being a competitor and in the room with this group of guys, I always want the ball. I know (manager Kevin) Cash is looking out for me and this team and I respect that. I’ll work hard this week and put myself in a better position to compete.” For his effort, McClanhan threw 3.1 innings, allowed four hits, three runs and a solo blast to Cody Mayo in the second. … The Rays took this one on a two-run, pinch single from Jonny DeLuca in the seventh, Closer Bryan Baker shut the door with 1.2 shutout innings and earned his 35th save of the season.
