The Tampa Bay Rays are moving forward with a clearer vision for their long-awaited new ballpark, and now we’re getting our first real look at what they’re asking from Hillsborough County to help make it happen.
Less than a month after zeroing in on the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough Community College as their preferred stadium site, the Rays have outlined a proposal that puts them on the hook for at least half of the stadium’s total cost. That includes covering any construction cost overruns and taking full financial responsibility for future repairs, maintenance, and renovations. In other words, the team is stepping up with a significant commitment - but they’re asking the county to meet them halfway.
According to a document from Commissioner Ken Hagan’s office - part of the agenda for this Wednesday’s Hillsborough County Commission meeting - the Rays are seeking up to 50% public funding for the project. To be clear, that doesn’t mean a blank check. The team is pointing to specific funding streams already under the county’s control, including the Tourist Development Tax (which comes from short-term rentals and hotel stays), unanticipated growth in revenue from the Community Investment Tax (a portion of the local sales tax), and property taxes collected from the area surrounding the proposed stadium site.
But it doesn’t stop there. The team is also proposing a couple of funding mechanisms that would need the City of Tampa’s approval - namely, a fee added to hotel bills in the vicinity of the stadium, and bond financing for infrastructure improvements via a Community Development District.
The document refers to this as a “conceptual framework,” a starting point for hammering out a more detailed Term Sheet down the line. It also leaves the door open for additional funding sources that could be brought into the mix during future negotiations.
One of those possibilities? A rental car surcharge - something Commissioner Hagan has mentioned before as a potentially big contributor, if it gets the green light from Governor Ron DeSantis.
Speaking of the governor, he’s expected to be in Tampa on Tuesday alongside MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for a news conference at Hillsborough College. While the official reason for the event hasn’t been disclosed, it’s widely anticipated that DeSantis could shed some light on whether - and how - the state might play a role in supporting the stadium project.
Then, on Wednesday, the Hillsborough County Commission will have its first public discussion on the stadium proposal. That’s a big deal, because under state law, commissioners can’t talk about it privately. So this meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m., will be the first time they’ll be able to openly weigh in on the Rays’ vision and the potential public-private partnership that could bring it to life.
Bottom line: The Rays are putting real money on the table, and they’re asking Hillsborough County to do the same. Now it’s up to local leaders - and possibly the state - to decide if this is the right deal to keep Major League Baseball in the heart of Tampa Bay for the long haul.