Rays advance stadium plans even as public approvals stall

Driving the news: The Rays appeared to be rounding third after the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners and the Tampa City Council agreed to enter into nonbinding agreements with the team.

• Then the Legislature threw them a curveball, putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot that could deprive the local governments backing the project of a major source of revenue.
• Last month, Alan Clendenin, chair of the Tampa City Council, punted a critical vote on $100 million in bonds backed by property taxes for the new stadium, saying everyone needed "more time" to digest.

Between the lines: The taxes would come from the Drew Park CRA, a special district governed by the City Council that uses growth in property tax revenue to fund redevelopment projects in the neighborhood.

Yes, but: The Rays aren't backing down — at least not yet.

• Last week, the team announced its search for a contractor to build the new stadium, with interviews scheduled for Aug. 10.
• And this week, the team unveiled its first look at the stadium's interior. The renderings depict a 30,000-seat ballpark with bullpen lounges, a center-field bar, two scoreboards and an expanded Rays Touch Tank.

What's next: The Drew Park CRA will meet Aug. 20 to vote on the deal.