Rays advance plans for new stadium following local funding approval

The Tampa Bay Rays have gained significant support for a new stadium after the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners approved a $796 million funding package on August 28, 2026. This funding is part of a larger $2.3 billion project aimed at relocating the team from St. Petersburg to Tampa by 2029. The approval by the county comes after years of discussions involving various ownership groups and municipalities, marking a critical step in the ongoing saga of the Rays' stadium search. Despite the support, some commissioners raised concerns about the long-term financial implications for taxpayers, predicting a total cost of approximately $1.83 billion over 35 years due to the funding structure.

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