Tampa council approves deal requiring Rays to fund local projects

The Tampa City Council voted 4-3 on Thursday to approve a community benefits agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays. The deal requires the baseball team to fund $21 million in cash, services, and programs for the city. This agreement is linked to the financing contract that allows the council to contribute $80 million toward the construction of a new stadium in Tampa.

The financial structure of the deal involves a split of the initial $12 million portion. Over the first five years, Hillsborough County will receive a share of that amount, while the City of Tampa will receive $4.2 million. The remaining funds are earmarked for specific community initiatives outlined in the contract.

The agreement identifies several areas where the Rays plan to direct their resources. These include transportation improvements, workforce development programs, youth sports, and community redevelopment. Rays officials stated that at least half of the total money will go toward affordable housing and parks in neighborhoods near the future stadium site.

Negotiations for this deal have been ongoing since the team proposed the $2.36 billion indoor stadium. The project is planned for the land currently occupied by the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College. The city and county will contribute no more than $876 million to the project. The Rays are responsible for covering more than $1.3 billion of the cost, along with any cost overruns.

Councilman Bill Carlson, who voted in favor of the package, said the collaboration between the team and various agencies was more extensive than he had previously seen. He noted that the process brought resources to the entire community, with a specific focus on West Tampa and the Drew Park area.

Councilman Luis Viera voted yes on the motion. He requested that the special meeting be held before he resigns on Election Day to run for the state House. The remaining six council members, who were divided on the stadium agreement, will vote on November 17 to appoint Viera's replacement.

Councilman Charlie Miranda voted no against the agreement, joined by Lynn Hurtak and Guido Maniscalco. Miranda argued that the city is essentially receiving its own taxpayer money back. He pointed out that Forbes valued the franchise at $1.7 billion as of last March, with annual revenue of roughly $290 million.

Miranda described the financial flow as circular, stating that the Rays are broke and that the money returning to the city is not truly new funding from the team. He emphasized that the deal does not represent a net gain for taxpayers because the city is paying for the stadium first.

Carlson countered this view by saying it would be more efficient for the city to keep the money it allocates to the Rays. He argued that the administrative costs of the current arrangement would exceed the value of a simple discount. He suggested the city could allocate the funds directly if the team did not manage the return of the cash.

The agreement includes accountability measures to monitor the spending. The Rays must provide annual progress reports to the city. A community advisory board will provide guidance on the projects. The city council is required to review the proposed projects every five years to ensure compliance with the terms of the deal.

The Rays plan to break ground on the stadium next month. The team aims to have the facility open and ready for use in time for the 2029 baseball season. The new venue will be an indoor structure located in the downtown area of Tampa.