Commissioner: Dates on Rays stadium votes may be set soon

TAMPA, Fla. — A vote to build a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays could happen as early as next week.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan told WDAE radio this week that meetings to discuss the deal could be scheduled with the city and county in the coming days.

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Hagan also said that Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby told him the city and team are nearing a point in negotiations where a vote can be scheduled.

Earlier this week, the team picked AECOM Hunt to develop the new $2.3-billion stadium at the Hillsborough College site.

That is the same company that helped repair Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton.

According to Hagan, a city council vote would come first, followed by the county commission. Meanwhile, financial negotiations between the team, city, and county are ongoing.

The Rays have committed to spending $1.2 billion on the project and were previously seeking $976 million in public contributions to the project, with $796 million from the county and $180 million from the city.

The team is now working to get a permit to build at Hillsborough College. That request is set for a Hillsborough Planning Commission hearing in November.

The Rays seek to have the stadium open by the 2029 season.