Hillsborough County Commission

The team reduced its public funding request to about $1 billion for its $2.3 billion proposed stadium, but Hillsborough officials say financing assumptions and deal terms still require further talks as deadlines near.

A county workshop on the Rays stadium proposal helped commissioners determine whether to contribute to the project, how to fund their share and how much to commit.

With the Rays under new ownership led by a major DeSantis and Republican donor, the governor is striking a different tune when it comes to funding sports stadiums.

The report by the consulting firm AECOM estimates the ballpark and its surrounding development would have an economic impact of $75 billion over 30 years. It was commissioned by the Tampa Sports Authority.

The proposal comes after weeks of negotiations with local officials but has not been vetted by public boards. It lays out ambitious economic projections to recoup the upfront investment.

There are calls for transparency as the board negotiates using the half-cent Community Investment Tax to help pay for the new ballpark on the site of Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus.

County commissioners want to have a financing package for the estimated $2.3 billion project ready beforehand. Meantime, the Rays have scheduled two more community meetings in Tampa.

The team is revising the proposed ballpark roof after an independent analysis suggested the design could cost at least $300 million more than expected. Public funding and construction timelines remain uncertain.

The measures could possibly increase the number of county commissioners to 11 — if population trends continue.

The price tag of a new Rays stadium in Tampa is estimated to be a minimum of $2.3 billion. Hillsborough County commissioners are digging into whether that cost can work.

They say they're satisfied with the zoning applicant's environmental strategy. The county has not officially approved the rezoning.

Hillsborough County Commissioners agreed to add six years to the hockey team's lease in exchange for major renovations to Benchmark International Arena.