Story perspectives

Hillsborough OKs $976M Public Funding for Rays Stadium

5/21/2026

Summary

County Commission Approves Stadium

The Hillsborough County Commission approved a nonbinding memorandum for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium by a 5-2 vote.
The memorandum earmarks $976 million in public funds—$796 million from the county and $180 million from Tampa—for the $2.3 billion stadium.
Commissioners Joshua Wostal and Donna Cameron Cepeda called the memorandum a betrayal of taxpayers.
County Attorney Julia Mandell said contract talks will take significant time and that the Tampa City Council will vote Thursday.

Summary

Board Approves Lease

Hillsborough College Board approved a 99-year lease for Rays with $10 rent, requiring team to cover taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance.
About 30 public speakers warned that using $360 million of Community Investment Tax money for the stadium could delay transportation and stormwater projects.
Governor Ron DeSantis rejected direct state funding, offered $150 million for college improvements, while critics say the plan could limit upgrades to Raymond James Stadium and Amalie Arena.

Summary

Commission Approves

The Hillsborough College Board of Trustees and the Hillsborough County Commission will each vote on the stadium proposal on Wednesday.
Commissioner Joshua Wostal said officials lack documents to assess the tax impact and said the stadium’s construction cost is about $1.1 billion, not $2.3 billion.
The commission’s 5-2 approval of the memorandum of understanding on Wednesday satisfies the first of two approvals needed before the Tampa City Council’s Thursday vote.

Summary

Zalupski Buys Rays

New owner Patrick Zalupski, a prominent donor to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, purchased the Tampa Bay Rays for $1.7 billion in September 2025, fueling the stadium initiative.
The stadium plan envisions a domed ballpark on a 128-acre site at Hillsborough College, surrounded by private development of restaurants, bars and retail.
The proposed venue would hold 31,000 seats and is slated to be ready for the 2029 MLB season, with the Rays remaining at Tropicana Field until then.
The complex would be located across Dale Mabry Boulevard from the Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium and adjacent to Steinbrenner Field.

History

Historical Context

After Malcolm Glazer’s 1995 push for a new Buccaneers venue, Tampa voters approved a half-cent sales tax in September 1996, passing 53%-47% to fund Raymond James Stadium entirely with public money. The 2005 Dallas Cowboys’ voter-approved public-private stadium deal later showed how such models can spur regional development, shaping today’s Rays stadium proposal.

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County Commission Approves Stadium

The Hillsborough County Commission approved a nonbinding memorandum for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium by a 5-2 vote.
The memorandum earmarks $976 million in public funds—$796 million from the county and $180 million from Tampa—for the $2.3 billion stadium.
Commissioners Joshua Wostal and Donna Cameron Cepeda called the memorandum a betrayal of taxpayers.
County Attorney Julia Mandell said contract talks will take significant time and that the Tampa City Council will vote Thursday.

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