Tampa City Council debates Rays' $251 million stadium funding request
Updated
Updated · FOX 13 Tampa · May 5
Tampa City Council debates Rays' $251 million stadium funding request
3 articles · Updated · FOX 13 Tampa · May 5
The team wants the city money for a $2.3 billion ballpark at Hillsborough Community College's Dale Mabry campus, while seeking $750 million in total taxpayer support from Hillsborough County.
Rays CEO Ken Babby said the project would bring record community benefits and economic activity, but Councilman Luis Viera and divided county commissioners questioned the financial tradeoffs.
No vote was taken, and council plans to act after the county commission, which has no stadium vote set for May 20, ahead of a June 1 deadline.
With experts warning stadium deals fail, why should taxpayers risk $1 billion on the Rays' new ballpark?
Amid a 'bot' email scandal, can Tampa officials trust the Rays' financing promises for their new stadium?