Tampa Bay Rays CEO Seeks to Rebuild Council Ties After Stadium Vote
Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby is actively working to mend relationships with members of the Tampa City Council following a vote that presented challenges for the team's proposed stadium project at Hillsborough College. Babby has initiated meetings, including breakfast…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, July 24, 2026 —
Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby has begun a concerted effort to repair relationships with members of the Tampa City Council, following a recent vote that created obstacles for the team’s proposed stadium development at Hillsborough College.
Babby has initiated a series of meetings aimed at addressing concerns and fostering collaboration with city officials. One such meeting involved a breakfast discussion with Council member Bill Carlson. The Rays’ CEO plans to continue these outreach efforts by engaging with each council member individually.
The goal of these direct conversations is to discuss the proposed stadium project, understand the council’s reservations, and work towards finding common ground to advance the team’s development plans. The recent council vote has highlighted the need for continued dialogue and relationship-building between the Rays organization and city leadership.
Further engagement with each council member is expected as Babby seeks to navigate the challenges presented by the recent vote and to build a path forward for the stadium project.
Story summarized from the original created by By John Romano, Sports Columnist on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
