Tampa city council pulls Rays stadium funding from agenda

Field Level Media|published: Mon 27th July, 13:37 2026

Apr 6, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; a general view of the stadium before a game between the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Rays' battle for a new ballpark deal hit another obstacle with Tampa's city council removing from its agenda an upcoming vote on a public funding proposal.

Front Office Sports reported Monday that a deepening political rift between the city council and Mayor Jane Castor led legislators to table a vote planned for Aug. 20.

"It's beyond frustrating that as city and county leaders are working tirelessly to hammer out an equitable deal to bring the Rays to Tampa, city council members want to halt our efforts in their tracks," Castor said. "Some city council members are clearly intent on killing the plan before negotiations are done and an agreement is ready for review. It defies common sense that they would prefer to have no say in the benefits a Rays project would bring to our city and instead punt it to the county."

Council members also declined to forward a land use plan for the $2.3 billion ballpark to state authorities for review, arguing that such a move was pointless.

"I think it's a waste of time to send it to the state if I'm just going to vote against it," said city council member Lynn Hurtak, per FOS.

The Rays are hoping to build a new domed stadium at Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry Campus in Tampa, located near Tampa International Airport and Raymond James Stadium.

The Rays currently play home games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The facility opened in 1990 and was reopened this season following repairs to damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

--Field Level Media

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