Tampa City Council backs $2.3 billion plan for new Rays stadium
The Tampa City Council voted 4-3 to approve a $2.3 billion public-private partnership for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark.
In a close 4-3 vote, Tampa’s City Council authorized a $2.3 billion arrangement to build a new home for the Tampa Bay Rays, blending public funds and private investment. The plan earmarks $967 million from taxes and relies on guaranteed private capital pledged by the team’s ownership. Ken Babby, the Rays’ chief executive, described the venture as a generational asset that will anchor a mixed-use district and lock in Major League Baseball’s presence in the area.
The site, negotiated with Hillsborough College, lies next to the New York Yankees’ spring-training facility and opposite Raymond James Stadium, home of the Buccaneers. County commissioners will vote on the deal the next day, and the franchise aims to break ground within three years. The agreement follows a collapsed $1.3 billion stadium proposal and comes after Patrick Zalupski’s group purchased the team last September.
Why it matters
The approval sets the stage for a major sports-driven development that could reshape Tampa’s economy and community landscape.
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