Cost is Top Concern as Voting Looms for Tampa Bay Rays New Stadium

The Tampa Bay Rays are on the hunt for a new stadium. Standing between the Rays and their new home are four "yes" votes from the seven county commissioners. The hardest part is reportedly behind them, St. Petersburg City Council approved the agreements for the new stadium in the Historic Gas Plant District.

However on Tuesday, county commissioners and city council members had a multi-hour meeting to discuss the deal with the Rays. Top of the discussion list was cost. The total project is expected to cost $1.37 billion. An estimated $312.5 million in tourist tax money would go toward the stadium, and the rest of the funds would be made up by a combination of city of St. Petersburg contributing $287.5 million and the Rays themselves fronting $700 million.

Unlike many other stadium deals happening across the country, the county's contribution toward the Ray's complex would come directly from that tourist fund, not local's tax money. The rules around this money stipulate that it must be used for entertainment purposes, like a new stadium. As county administrator Barry Burton said in an interview with 10 News Tampa Bay, they can't use that money to pave roads or hire police officers. It is not what it is earmarked for. 

“This is our time to make sure that we’re clear on what the ramifications of the stadium deal are and how they’re interacting with the development,” commissioner Dave Eggers told The Tampa Bay Times. He plans to vote ‘no’ on the stadium deal, citing two of his main concerns as "feeling rushed" and "selling the land below appraised value."

While commissioners raised many other concerns for the Rays and supporting council members, they were reminded that the project is estimated to grow the local economy by more than $443 million and create 15,000 jobs.

“Whether you’re in Palm Harbor or in St. Pete or Pinellas Park, that has an economic benefit throughout the entire region and throughout Pinellas County,” said Burton.

Another key piece of negotiations is the affordable housing project that the city council is insistent the Ray’s build as a part of the off-site development plan. Right now, that plan is contingent on future government funding and is not scheduled to start construction any time soon. This is a sticking point for some commissioners.

Commissioner Rene Flowers said, “it would be really nice if that could be pushed up and moved forward. Off-site has no bearing as what happens on-site.” While recognizing that the county’s role in the negotiations is only for the stadium, she would still like to see that affordable housing prioritized.