Overview
- Hillsborough County commissioners voted unanimously to authorize negotiations and reviewed a framework that envisions a roughly $2.3 billion stadium with the Rays paying about half plus cost overruns and local governments covering the remainder.
- County documents list potential non–general fund sources such as hotel and tourist taxes, special assessment districts, community redevelopment revenues, and ticket or facility surcharges, while use of Community Investment Tax dollars drew objections from two commissioners.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred endorsed the Hillsborough College site, with the state set to convey the land to the college and assist on infrastructure and campus needs but not provide direct stadium funding.
- The Rays released initial ballpark and district renderings, announced community engagement sessions, and began taking $19.98 deposits for early seating access as the project advances at the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus.
- An HCC-approved MOU grants a 180-day exclusive window for negotiations, the team is targeting an April 2029 opening, and league officials cautioned there are Florida alternatives, including interest from Orlando, if a deal cannot be reached.