Hillsborough County has approved spending $17.96 million in tourist taxes to renovate Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training home.
County commissioners approved the proposal by a 6-1 vote Oct. 15, with Donna Cameron-Cepeda delivering the lone no vote. She did not respond to a request for comment.
Those who voted in favor of the funding said Steinbrenner Field is worth properly maintaining because it is a county-owned asset.
“I do disagree that we should be paying for the sound system, security cameras, lighting (and) magnetometers for a Major League team that is worth billions of dollars,” commissioner Joshua Wostal said.
“That being said, leaders of the past had made the decision to purchase this, and it is a county asset that requires us to maintain a safe standard where we could possibly assume liability for any harm. For that reason, and for that reason alone, I will be voting today to support the funding.”
The money will come from taxes on overnight lodging. It will be used for about two dozen projects over the next two years, which are currently slated to cost $39.8 million.
The Yankees will invest an estimated $22 million in addition to the funding approved by Hillsborough, said Kevin Brickey, the county’s director of management and budget.
Work starts this fall with investments in the stadium’s current security camera, TV and Wi-Fi set ups for an estimated $1.95 million.
In 2026, $4.5 million will go toward a new scoreboard, and $900,000 will be spent on a new sound system. Another $1 million is set aside for more Wi-Fi enhancements. Various other expenses, including repaving the parking lot and concourse and concession renovations, bring next year’s estimated expenses to just less than $9.5 million.
The following year will be headlined by a $2.5 million dollar renovation of the stadium’s main entrance plaza.
“The Yankees have been incredible partners for decades, and they showed their true sense of community by allowing the Rays to play at Steinbrenner Field this past season, something they did not have to do,” commissioner Ken Hagan said. “Steinbrenner Field is a county-owned asset, so it’s in our best interest to maintain a first-class facility.”
The Yankees’ 2025 Spring Training had an estimated economic impact on Hillsborough and the Tampa Bay Region of $288 million, $157 of which came from direct spending on accommodations, restaurants and more, Brickey’s presentation said.
Last February, the Yankees completed a $17 million baseball operation renovation. That ultimately enticed the Rays to pick Steinbrenner over the two minor league ballparks in Pinellas County after Hurricane Milton tore the roof from its home stadium, Tropicana Field, in 2024, Hagan said.
“They’ve been great partners, and they are certainly at the table with a significant investment as well,” Hagan said.
The Oct. 15 vote highlights the ongoing demand for public money to maintain the county’s sports facilities. Existing public revenue streams could be tested if the new Rays owners seek to build a new baseball stadium in Hillsborough.