TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Pinellas County Commission is gearing up for a crucial vote this Tuesday regarding the funding for a brand-new $1.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, following two significant delays. With Rays officials expressing confidence in the upcoming approval, all eyes are on the commission as they prepare to make their decision.
The comprehensive plan for the ballpark had received approval from both the county commission and the city of St. Petersburg earlier in the summer. However, the votes on the funding aspect of the deal had been postponed, causing some uncertainty in the process. In a positive development earlier this month, the St. Petersburg City Council stepped up and voted to greenlight its portion of the bonds required to kickstart the construction of the state-of-the-art 30,000-seat stadium. Now, the ball is in the court of the county to determine whether to issue the bonds, which are intended to be financed by tourist taxes designated for specific purposes such as hurricane recovery efforts.
As per the agreement, the city and county are poised to contribute roughly half of the total cost, with the remaining funds to be covered by the Rays, including any potential cost overruns that may arise during the project. “We’re honoring our end of the deal,” declared City Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders during a recent meeting. “We made a commitment to this project, and we are following through. So, what’s next?”
The proposal marks a significant milestone after years of uncertainty surrounding the future of the Rays, including speculation about potential relocations to Tampa, Nashville, or even the unique idea of splitting home games between St. Petersburg and Montreal—an idea that was ultimately dismissed by Major League Baseball. Under the terms of the stadium agreement, the Rays are committed to remaining in St. Petersburg for the next three decades. However, due to damage sustained by Tropicana Field from a recent hurricane, the team will be playing their upcoming season in Tampa at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.
The proposed stadium is a focal point of a broader $6.5 billion revitalization initiative known as the Historic Gas Plant District, which seeks to revive a historically significant predominantly Black neighborhood that was displaced during the construction of the Trop and an interstate highway spur. Advocates of the project emphasize that the development plans encompass an 86-acre tract in the city’s downtown area, featuring a range of amenities such as a Black history museum, affordable housing options, entertainment venues, as well as office and retail spaces—all of which are projected to create numerous job opportunities.
Pinellas County Commission Chair Kathleen Peters highlighted the multifaceted benefits of the project during a meeting in November, stating, “This endeavor transcends the realm of just a stadium. It’s about the strategic investment we are making and the potential returns that can ensure the stability of our tax rates.”
