HINES AND THE RAYS
Shaping the Future of Sports-Anchored Development
We guided Hines and The Rays through integrating hospitality into their MLB stadium redevelopment in downtown St. Petersburg. Our expertise transformed a sports venue into a vibrant live-work-play district.
Our Client
Hines and The Rays are on an ambitious project: redeveloping an MLB stadium into a dynamic district in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. They needed specialized hospitality knowledge to enhance the stadium experience and create a destination that would thrive year-round.
The Challenge
Creating a successful sports-anchored development required specific expertise our client didn’t have in-house:
- Hotel development fundamentals are unfamiliar to sponsors
- Industry complexity creates barriers to entry
- High financial risk for novice hospitality developers
The project sponsors required expert guidance to understand how a hotel could complement and enhance the stadium experience.
Our Approach
We delivered comprehensive hospitality consulting that bridged the knowledge gap for the development team. Our work focused on three critical areas:
- Analyzing comparable stadium districts
- Developing hotel program specifications
- Evaluating brand and operator options
This collaborative process created a comprehensive hospitality plan that positioned the stadium district as a year-round destination, significantly increasing the project’s market appeal and financial viability.
Featured Projects
See how our expertise has delivered measurable results across various hospitality projects.
Planning a complex mixed-use development?
Hesperus Group provides the specialized hospitality expertise to maximize value and guest experience in your next development project.