Carlson's new financing plan could unlock Rays stadium deal
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Rendering: Courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa City Council is playing hardball with the Rays, but a new financing plan pitched by council member Bill Carlson could give the team the vote it needs to keep the dream of its "Forever Home" alive.
Why it matters: The Rays say shovels need to be in the ground next month to have a new stadium ready for Opening Day 2029, leaving the team with little time or leverage to win over a so-far resistant City Council.
Catch up quick: The City Council has made its dissatisfaction with the state of negotiations with the Rays clear — delaying votes on stadium financing twice and denying the team's land-use amendment.
- Carlson, who voted to approve the memorandum of understanding in May while promising to oppose the final deal, has so far kept his word, pushing to delay funding decisions and voting against the amendment.
- He said the Rays haven't done enough to include the City Council in negotiations. But now, after discussions with the team, Carlson could be the swing vote needed to move the stadium deal forward.
Driving the news: Carlson unveiled a new financing arrangement last week that, according to WUSF, has been well received by the Rays.
- The current memorandum calls for the City of Tampa to contribute $180 million toward the new ballpark, with the funds drawn from the half-cent sales tax and the Drew Park Community Redevelopment Agency.
- Carlson's new proposal would leave both funding sources intact and instead finance the stadium using property taxes generated from the mixed-use district planned alongside it.
Between the lines: The new funding structure could also answer a billion-dollar question hanging over the stadium deal.
- As written, the memorandum of understanding offers no guarantee that the Rays will build the surrounding mixed-use development. Carlson's plan would give the team a financial incentive to do so.
The big picture: Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners Chair Ken Hagan said no further action on the Rays deal will be taken until the City Council grants approval.
- The City Council's final meeting of the month is Aug. 27 — which could be the last chance to approve the deal in time to keep construction on schedule.