Community Benefits

A concentration of active, ground-level retail, entertainment and food and beverage establishments adjacent to the ballpark will guarantee an incomparable gameday experience while preserving a fun, local hangout space for residents. This 24/7 urban environment with high foot traffic will fully leverage indoor-outdoor spaces in a multimodal setting that encourages locals and visitors alike to pause and enjoy.

The retail merchandising vision includes an economically sustainable mix of local, regional and national stores to create a destination as well as deliver convenient neighborhood services.

Hines Historic Gas Plant Partnership is committed to restorative business occupancy, lowering the barrier of entry for minority-owned businesses. This will be driven by equitable access through funding provided in our intentional equity program. The team has committed to scalable business space for diverse entities, including non-profits, businesses and entrepreneurs. The long-term goal is 30% MWB participation, with a target threshold of 20% and a pledge to a minimum threshold of 10% MWB participation in the project.

With the ballpark as a major entertainment and economic anchor for the development, a wide range of retail uses can build on the placemaking while serving the local community. Creating a balanced mix of small and medium storefronts in the development will be critical to providing opportunities for new local, independent retailers to occupy the site and for other existing St. Petersburg businesses to relocate to the site in similar accommodations.

Leveraging the already strong relationships between the Rays and the St. Pete Downtown Partnership, Tampa Bay Partnership, St. Pete Economic Development Corporation, St. Petersburg Chamber and Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber will ensure local businesses are integrated throughout the plan in a mix of space types, including:

• Traditional storefronts
• Retail kiosks in the public realm
• Food trucks and pop-up retail programs

St. Petersburg’s Grow Smarter strategy identified five target industry sectors primed for growth and development in the area. Companies in the industries below are increasingly relocating to cities like St. Petersburg to attract and retain top talent.

• Marine & Life Science

• Data Analytics

• Specialized Manufacturing

• Creative Arts & Design

• Financial Services

Grow Smarter will become Grow Together in late 2023 and will continue to play a part in guiding the long-term growth strategy for the site.