All articles tagged with #hillsborough college
Tampa Bay weighs a Rays stadium financed with public funds, anchored by Hillsborough College land and nearby development. Proponents argue it could spur revenue and community improvements, while risks include uncertain tax receipts, fast-tracked milestones, possible attendance shortfalls, and legal questions—making it far from a slam dunk.
Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak released a six-minute video arguing the Rays stadium proposal would burden taxpayers, pointing to an $80 million city contribution via a loan or line of credit with no guaranteed repayment and possible funding from higher property taxes. The council is set to vote on the deal Thursday, followed by a Friday county vote. The Rays have issued non-binding commitments on transportation, affordable housing and minority-owned businesses, and Hillsborough College released new renderings for a reimagined campus.
The Florida Cabinet voted to transfer 22 acres of Hillsborough College land at the Dale Mabry campus to the Rays for a planned Tampa stadium and mixed-use district, with the team expected to fund about half of the up-to-$2.3 billion cost and remaining funds from Tampa and county sources. The transfer includes conditions: the project must have certain components built within five years, and Hillsborough College will retain ownership of redeveloped buildings. Gov. DeSantis voiced support, noting potential state funding for college buildings, while some lawmakers raised concerns about taxpayer subsidies and ensuring a tangible economic return.
Newly owned Rays are pursuing a $2.3 billion stadium at Hillsborough College with a $8–$10 billion mixed-use development around it, seeking roughly half the cost from the team and the rest from public funds. The plan faces political hurdles in Tampa and Hillsborough County, a potential relocation threat, and an exclusive 180‑day negotiating window, as MLB signals urgency on stadium solutions amid expansion talks.
Rays owners favor a Hillsborough College site in Tampa for a new baseball stadium, but Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan says Orlando could become the team’s fallback if a deal stalls, noting Orlando’s stronger bed-tax revenue and ongoing hurdles to an agreement in Tampa; DeSantis signaled state help only for roads/sewers, not the stadium, as MLB radars keep the Rays in Tampa Bay.
The Rays have a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Hillsborough College to explore a new ballpark on the Dale Mabry campus with a 2029 opening target. Financing would be a public-private mix, potentially up to roughly $1.1 billion in public subsidies from bed taxes and the Community Investment Tax. A wide array of players—county commissioners, the City of Tampa, the Tampa Sports Authority, state education boards, and the governor’s circle—must approve and navigate hurdles such as political opposition, airport-height restrictions, and redevelopment considerations. Hillsborough College would lease the land to the Rays, with ownership potentially transferring to the county if public money is used. The path forward is uncertain and depends on a lengthy approval process and coordination among many agencies and local neighbors.
Hillsborough College’s board of trustees unanimously approved a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Tampa Bay Rays to explore building a stadium on the Dale Mabry campus as part of a larger mixed-use redevelopment. The plan grants the Rays a 180-day exclusive window to negotiate a final agreement, with ownership potentially transferring to the county if public funding is involved. The project would add new classrooms and learning spaces, create jobs, and require approvals from the Hillsborough County Commission and the Tampa City Council. A final deal remains uncertain amid funding skepticism and questions about financing and timelines, including a proposed stadium target of 2029.
The Tampa Bay Rays are proposing a new baseball stadium on Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, part of a broader redevelopment that would add college facilities and a mixed-use development. A non-binding memorandum of understanding outlines a long-term lease of most property to the Rays, with the college retaining control of its campus facilities and the master plan requiring the college’s approval; ownership of any publicly funded stadium components could transfer to the county. The Hillsborough College District Board will meet to discuss and vote on the MOU.