Tampa’s share of the proposed Rays stadium deal could end up looking a lot smaller than the original numbers floating around earlier this summer.
Council member Bill Carlson, who cast the swing vote on the stadium MOU and is also running for mayor in 2026, has apparently been working behind the scenes on a compromise that would trim the city’s overall tax revenue contribution to $80 million. That possibility was first hinted at during public comments at the City Council meeting that approved the non-binding MOU in June.
According to reporting from John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times, the original setup had Tampa committing $100 million toward bond repayment in its role as caretaker for the Community Redevelopment Agency in Drew Park, where the stadium would be built. Under the revised approach, that CRA responsibility would move to Hillsborough County.
If that shift happens, Tampa’s remaining obligation would be limited to $80 million from Community Investment Tax revenues. The CIT is the half-cent sales tax originally approved to help fund Raymond James Stadium and now used for a range of community capital projects, including stadiums across the area.
That doesn’t mean the city gets a clean victory in the negotiations. Romano noted several tradeoffs that could come with the lower city contribution. The Rays are required to put together a community benefits agreement with meaningful funding for items like affordable housing and parks, and if Tampa doesn’t put money into the stadium construction, those benefits could be redirected into county-only projects.
There’s also the matter of game-day staffing. The Rays currently spend millions each year hiring off-duty law enforcement and firefighters for home games, but under this arrangement those jobs could shift to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies instead of Tampa Police officers. Romano pointed out that would not sit well with union members.
Still, for those trying to get the stadium deal across the finish line, moving part of the tax burden from the city to the county may be a major piece of the puzzle.
In Other News...
Rays May Be Eyeing The Kind Of Move Fans Have Waited For
With the Rays holding a firm division edge and another pivotal stretch in front of them, the conversation around this club has started to shift from simply staying ahead to wondering whether the front office might press for a bigger finish. ESPNs David Schoenfield floated Tampa Bay as a logical fit in a broader look at the trade market, and it is easy to see why. A frontline arm would deepen a rotation that has leaned heavily on Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan and Nick Martinez, and it would give the Rays a more imposing look as the playoff chase tightens.
Tarik Skubal is the kind of name that changes the tone of those discussions, even before any actual deal is on the table. The question for Tampa Bay is whether it would be willing to part with the kind of prospect package such a move would demand, and whether Detroit would even make him available in the first place. For a fan base that has waited a long time to see the Rays chase a true splash, this is the sort of possibility that feels worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Making Room At The Trop For Evan Longoria Weekend
The Rays are turning Tropicana Field into a bigger stage for Evan Longorias Legacy Weekend, opening the upper deck for their July 10-12 series against the Mariners to handle the expected surge of fans. It will be the first time the upper level has been open since the 2023 AL Wild Card Series, a fitting sign of how much this weekend means to a fan base that watched Longoria become one of the defining players in franchise history.
Longorias Rays Hall of Fame induction is set for July 11, with his No. 3 jersey retirement coming before the July 12 game, and the club is layering in plenty of extras around the ceremonies. There will be special giveaways and branded baseballs throughout the weekend, all aimed at making the celebration feel less like a single pregame moment and more like a full-scale tribute to one of the organizations cornerstone names. [Read more 🡒]