MLB

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.

The stadium, ridiculed as MLB’s worst venue, is open again after being damaged by Hurricane Milton, and players and fans can’t wait to get indoors. A sellout crowd is set for the home opener against the Cubs.

As expected, Major League Baseball waited until a few hours before first pitch to tell fans where to view games on cable, satellite and streaming services outlets.

New owners? Sure. But the Rays also have new TV access, new technology and, in many ways, a new Trop. We'll try to get you up to speed before Tampa Bay and St. Louis take the field for the first of 162 games.

CEO Ken Babby will lead the fourth gathering to present the Rays' vision for the ballpark and hear what attendees think about it. The session begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Press Box in South Tampa.

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 Cabinet will review a proposal for using 22 acres of state land for the Rays' 113-acre mixed-use ballpark development, with the requirement of integrating the college and team in a revised master plan.