How Tampa stands to benefit from a new Rays stadium
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Rendering: Courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa City Council on Thursday will consider a community benefits agreement tied to the Rays' new stadium that, if approved, would deliver $4.2 million to the city over five years.
Why it matters: The deal spells out what Tampa gets in return for its stake in the stadium and exempts the Rays from rules that bind other developers the city subsidizes.
Catch up quick: The Hillsborough County Commission required the Rays to provide $60 million in community benefits when it approved the stadium deal in late August.
- The county, which agreed to spend up to $796 million on the stadium, would receive the lion's share: $39 million. Tampa, which committed up to $80 million, would receive $21 million.
- The County Commission and the City Council will each vote on a separate community benefits agreement with the Rays.
Follow the money: The agreement covers only 2027 through 2031 and about a fifth of the city's $21 million.
- Topping the list is $1.25 million for rental help, home repairs and housing projects in neighborhoods including West Tampa Heights, Drew Park and East Tampa.
- The Yellow Jackets Little League, a historic West Tampa institution displaced by the city's West River redevelopment, would receive $300,000 from the Rays over four years.
The fine print: The Rays would propose new projects every five years, each needing council approval, until they delivered the remaining $16.8 million.
- If the team fell behind on its promised services, it would not be in default as long as it kept working "in good faith" to make up the shortfall within two years.
The intrigue: The vote comes days before council member Luis Viera, who has voted in favor of the stadium, leaves office Nov. 2 to run for the state House.
- The council approved the stadium deal by a vote of only 4-3. Viera's exit could leave it deadlocked on future votes until Nov. 17, when it names an interim replacement, who may or may not support the deal.
What's next: The City Council will vote on the agreement at its 9am meeting Thursday, where Rays representatives are expected to present the benefits and timeline, according to a city memo.
- You can sign up to give public comment here.