Rays Seek Ballpark Financing Structure Before Deadline

The Tampa Bay Rays are pushing Hillsborough officials to present a financing “structure” for a new ballpark before its deal to look for a home outside of St. Petersburg runs out Dec. 31.  Read more here.

Record-Setting Tourism Year Bolsters Case to Raise Hotel Tax for New Rays Ballpark

For the elected officials who want to see the Tampa Bay Rays move to Ybor City, it’s especially good news that Hillsborough County had a record-setting year collecting the Tourist Development Tax, which now sits at 5 cents per dollar spent by visitors to stay at hotels, motels and other short-term rentals.  There is interest in raising the tax by 1 cent to help pay for a new ballpark.  Read more here.

County Official: Rays’ $150 Million Contribution Won’t Be Enough for New Ballpark

Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill said Thursday that it will take more than $150 million from the Tampa Bay Rays to build a ballpark in Ybor City.  Read more here.

Rays Picked Ybor City Site, Not County

The Ybor City site announced last week as the preferred spot for a Tampa ballpark was chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays not Hillsborough County, according to county administrator Mike Merrill.  Read more here.

Hillsborough County Chooses Proposed Ballpark Site

Hillsborough County (FL) leaders have decided where they want to put a Tampa ballpark, entering them officially in the sweepstakes to be the next home of the Tampa Bay Rays.  The county will offer the Rays a location in the Channel District-Ybor City area bordered by 15th Street and Channelside Drive to the east and west and Fourth Avenue and Adamo Drive to the north and south.  Read more here.

Channel District-Ybor for Potential Rays Ballpark?

Officials trying to lure the Tampa Bay Rays across the water are aggressively working to secure a site for a ballpark in the Channel District-Ybor City area, and hope to make an announcement soon.  Read more here.

Hillsborough County Exploring Ways to Fund New Rays Ballpark

The brainstorming is well underway for Hillsborough County (FL) officials who are exploring creative ways to fund a new ballpark in Tampa to lure the Tampa Bay Rays from St. Petersburg across the bay.  Read more here.

Rays Explore Nine Potential Ballpark Sites

Tampa Bay Rays executives met with Tampa and Hillsborough County officials Tuesday for their first discussion of specific potential baseball stadium sites in the county.  Read more here.

St. Pete, Rays Reach Departure Deal

Mayor Rick Kriseman and the Tampa Bay Rays have negotiated an agreement to let the team search for new stadium sites in Hillsborough County in exchange for payments to the city if the team leaves before its contract at Tropicana Field expires in 2027.  Read more here.

Contemplating Possible State Funding For New Rays Ballpark

Hillsborough County (FL) Commissioner Ken Hagan said a new state funding pool created by the Legislature this spring will be a “critical component” of any effort to build a new home for the Tampa Bay Rays.  But, he said, applying for state funding is “a couple years down the road.”  Read more here.

Greasing the Wheels for Rays Ballpark Talks

While nothing has changed in the long-running stalemate between the Tampa Bay Rays and the city of St. Petersburg, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan plans to ask the commission Wednesday to designate the Tampa Sports Authority to lead discussions with the Rays about a new stadium — if the Rays get permission to look at sites outside Pinellas County.  Read more here.