The Tampa City Council voted Thursday to delay a decision on the Tampa Bay Rays’ $2.3 billion stadium proposal until Aug. 20, giving negotiators additional time to work through outstanding details on the publicly subsidized project.
Sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency board, council members approved the postponement 5-2, with Lynn Hurtak and Charlie Miranda casting the dissenting votes.
The Rays are seeking $976 million in public contributions toward the new ballpark — $796 million from Hillsborough County and $180 million from the city. The team is targeting a 2029 opening at the proposed site on the Hillsborough College campus along Dale Mabry Highway.
Council member Alan Clendenin said earlier this week that the delay would allow more time for ongoing negotiations between the team and local government.
The vote also comes amid broader uncertainty over local tax revenue. The Florida Legislature recently approved a property tax reform measure tied to homestead exemptions that, if approved by voters in November, could affect how local funding is allocated for the project.
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