Tampa city council pushes back Rays stadium vote to August

TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa city council members on Thursday voted to push back a vote on the Rays’ $2.3-billion stadium proposal.

According to Spectrum Bay News 9’s partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, council members, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency board, voted 5-2 to delay the vote until Aug. 20.

Council members Lynn Hurtak and Charlie Miranda were the no votes.

Lawmakers recently approved the property tax reform measure involving homestead exemptions. If that passes in November, that would impact how local funding is allocated.

The Rays are seeking $976 million in public contributions to the project, with $796 million from the county and $180 million from the city.

Team officials say they want to be in the new facility, targeted for the Hillsborough College campus on Dale Mabry Highway, in time for the 2029 season.

City Councilman Alan Clendenin said earlier this week that a delay would simply provide more time for ongoing negotiations.