Hillsborough approves $2.3B Rays stadium deal, sealing Tampa Bay’s ballpark future

Hillsborough County’s 5-2 vote approves the Tampa Bay Rays’ $2.3 billion stadium plan, a move that follows a 4-3 City Council approval and aims to anchor Major League Baseball in the region. The county’s $796 million share is funded by $360 million from the Community Investment Tax, $303 million from bonded Tourist Development Tax, a $103 million draw from the main county account, and $30 million from HUD disaster-relief funds; supporters call it a transformative investment, while critics label it an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars.