Rays CEO says stadium deal talks are in final stages as state funding questions remain

Rays CEO Ken Babby says negotiations with Tampa and Hillsborough leaders are nearing a deal, while state leaders signal funding could depend on local approval.

TAMPA, Fla. — With the Rays’ self-imposed June 1 deadline approaching, local leaders could vote as soon as next week on a proposed deal to bring the team to Tampa.

In addition to the more than $1 billion in proposed city and county public funding for a new stadium, the Rays are also potentially seeking around $150 million from the state for infrastructure improvements.

But as state budget negotiations continue in Tallahassee, budget committee chair Sen. Ed Hooper (R-Clearwater) says lawmakers should wait until local leaders and the Rays reach an agreement first.

“It seems like they have some issues at the local level with their county and city request that may need to get resolved before the state contemplates involvement,” Hooper said. “The locals — Hillsborough County and the city — there seems to be some heartburn at the request. And until they resolve that, I don’t think the state needs to be involved.”

In a text Wednesday afternoon, Rays CEO Ken Babby said he was actively in discussions with city and county leaders and that they are in the final stages of a memorandum of understanding.

Gov. Ron DeSantis also weighed in Wednesday, saying the state would not directly fund the stadium itself but could support surrounding infrastructure and redevelopment at the Hillsborough Community College campus.

“We’re not doing, at the state level, money for a stadium and we have not done that since I’ve been governor,” DeSantis said. “But what we do do is infrastructure around major things because I don’t think people want to sit in traffic.”

DeSantis said the state has transportation plans in place if the project moves forward and said improvements to the HCC campus could also benefit the state.

“The question was do we want to sink money into rehabbing old buildings, and do all this deferred maintenance or do we just want to reimagine the campus into something that could be really special,” DeSantis said.

He also pointed to growing interest from other cities if the Tampa deal falls apart.

“I do know there’s a debate about, OK are they gonna go to this Tampa site?” DeSantis said. “I know Orlando wants it. Orlando, they would plow a lot of money into this, there’s no question.”

A vote on the deal was originally scheduled for April 1 but has now been delayed three times.

If local leaders and the team do reach a deal, the next possible votes are the May 20 Hillsborough County Commission meeting followed by the May 21 Tampa City Council meeting.