MLB

In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, CEO Ken Babby says the economics behind the $2.3 project are settled after local approvals of a non-binding MOU, with the focus now on nailing down unresolved issues.

Joining in on the fun is simple: Go to the section where the party is happening, take off your shirt and start twirling it above your head.

Senate Appropriations Chair Ed Hooper said the money won't be set until local financing agreements are a "done deal," and lawmakers needs something more concrete than this week's approved MOU.

Joshua Wostal tells WDAE the county is investigating nearly 3,000 emails sent to commissioners from one IP address in Los Angeles. He also questions whether the Rays have the financing to avoid taxpayer risk.

The Battery Atlanta's mixed-use development hasn’t been able to pay off Cobb County's $300 million subsidy, casting doubt on the Rays' similar strategy to cover a billion-dollar ask of taxpayers, writes an economist and lifelong Braves fan.

The team said it remains committed to a 2029 opening but pushed back on Hillsborough officials' requests for stronger financial guarantees and earlier private funding disclosures.

Despite a Rays warning that changing the timeline would jeopardize the project, the team says it's working "diligently" on a response to the county's list of 14 unresolved conditions.

Commissioner Ken Hagan tells WDAE existing restricted revenues can fund most of the county's share, but critics of the plan say taxpayers are still exposed through reserves and emergency dollars.

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 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.

Fans who buy tickets for any of the three games can stick around after the final out for the concerts. Field access is also available by purchasing a wristband.

Fans who sweated in the summer heat playing last season at Steinbrenner Field were again bathed in sweet air conditioning. “What a moment for the community,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said.