Rays Will Open Ballpark Experience Center in Tampa
The 15,000-square-foot facility will allow fans to visualize the team's new stadium features ahead of its 2029 opening.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Baseball
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The Tampa Bay Rays have partnered with design firm Advent to create a new ballpark experience center located at Westshore City Center. The site is expected to open in early 2027 to help prospective season ticket members and partners visualize the new venue.
Why it matters
The center serves as a specialized sales venue where fans and corporate partners can interact with digital previews of the future stadium's seating and hospitality amenities. This initiative is designed to build momentum and secure long-term commitments well before the team moves into its new ballpark in 2029.
The upcoming center will span nearly 15,000 square feet at 1111 North Westshore Boulevard. The facility will utilize digital technology to showcase stadium designs, a feature set that follows Advent's work with teams like the Athletics and Browns.
The players
Tampa Bay Rays
This professional baseball franchise competes in Major League Baseball and is moving forward with plans for a new ballpark in Tampa.
Advent
This design firm specializes in creating immersive experience centers for professional sports organizations across the United States.
Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners
This local government body is responsible for providing the necessary financial approval for major public infrastructure and stadium projects in the region.
Tampa City Council
This legislative body governs the city of Tampa and plays a central role in approving and overseeing municipal development projects.
The details
Visitors to the experience center will be able to explore high-tech digital previews of the new ballpark, view team memorabilia, and even create personalized baseball cards. While a significant portion of the space will be restricted to appointment-only sales meetings, about one-third of the facility will remain open to the general public.
Timeline
September 2026: Hillsborough County and Tampa City officials approved the new ballpark financing.
October 2026: Construction on the new ballpark project officially commences.
Early 2027: The Rays Ballpark Experience Center is scheduled to open its doors to the public.
2029: The new stadium is expected to hold its grand opening.
Season Trajectory
The Rays are adopting the Advent experience center model, which follows its use by the Athletics, Panthers, Browns, and Jaguars to drive stadium engagement. The project follows a pattern set by previous professional sports teams that have utilized these immersive technology centers to convert prospective interest into season ticket sales.
The center provides a physical venue for fans to lock in seat locations and hospitality packages before the 2029 stadium opening. Prospective ticket members can use the space to secure their tenure, directly influencing the early season-ticket revenue projections for the franchise.
The takeaway
The development of this facility highlights a growing trend among sports franchises to gamify the sales process through immersive digital previews. Fans should monitor the 2027 opening to determine how they can best secure priority seating for the new 2029 season.
Further reading
For more background on the team's facility plans, see the latest coverage in Baseball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Athletic Business Magazine.
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