Hillsborough County commissioners have put the Tampa Sports Authority in the middle of the Rays’ proposed stadium project, voting 5-2 to make the agency the link between local government and the developers.
The decision means the TSA, along with consultant Skanska, will review documents and designs as the project moves forward. County leaders said the setup gives the city and county a seat at the table during a process they described as long and complicated. The contract is for $300,000.
Commissioner Harry Cohen said the oversight is meant to protect public dollars and make sure the ballpark is built properly.
"They wanted to make sure that they would have an opportunity to value engineer this ballpark as it is constructed," said Commissioner Harry Cohen. "Because, after all, there is taxpayer money being used here.
It's going to be a public facility. And when we talk about a forever home for the raise, if that means.
That for the next 35 years at least, this facility is going to be our ballpark, and we want to make sure it's constructed right."
The two commissioners who voted no, Cepeda and Wostal, were the same two who opposed the project at the outset. Their concern centered on spending money on consultants before the bond votes are held.
Those bond votes have not been scheduled yet, though officials are hoping to hold them sometime in the fall. Until that happens, public money cannot be used on construction. For now, the Rays are able to cover the cost of finishing their own designs.
The city and county approved plans last month for a $2.3 billion stadium at Hillsborough College, but the project is still not final until the bond votes take place.
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