All articles tagged with #stadium
Rays CEO Ken Babby says Tampa City Council and Hillsborough County Commission are poised to approve a $2.3 billion ballpark deal, after concessions that increase the Rays’ share and annual rent; the county would own the stadium, which is tied to a large private mixed-use district funded by private investment, with a 2029 opening and a bond-validation process to come.
The Tampa Bay Rays have reached a near-final financing agreement with Tampa and Hillsborough County for a new stadium, with final documents due next week and votes anticipated on Aug. 27 (city) and Aug. 28 (county). The package revises the prior plan by adjusting the city’s share, maintains a $976 million public contribution, and contemplates an $80 million city loan plus a possible $100 million Rays loan to be repaid from future property tax revenues tied to a surrounding mixed-use development; several commissioners and council members have raised questions, signaling a tight, closely watched approval process and potential last-minute changes.
Two Hillsborough County commissioners who previously backed the Rays stadium deal now question it, potentially upending the pact as the financing structure shifts: the city would lend $80 million and the Rays would borrow about $100 million, to be repaid with property‑tax revenues from a surrounding mixed‑use development. Commissioner Chris Boles says there’s no guaranteed county revenue and seeks written assurances on the development piece, while Commissioner Christine Miller questions the city’s share and warns of possible exposure (up to $380 million) after a related land‑use change stalled. With votes looming next week, the changing terms and political dynamics add new uncertainty to the deal.
KC City Council approves a $600 million city funding package to back a $1.9 billion Royals stadium and a $3 billion entertainment district in Crown Center, financed with bonds and a tax-increment financing plan for a 30-year agreement; construction could begin next year with a 2030 opening, as planning continues with TIF decisions and rezoning amid political debate.
The Royals released new renderings of their Crown Center stadium plan and the surrounding 85-acre development, featuring a park-like central square with fountains, ahead of a city finance meeting. The broader project includes more than $2B in private investment, the stadium itself is about $1.9B with a mixed public/private funding split, and a separate roughly $1B ballpark village is funded entirely by the Royals with no public funds, along with plans for a reimagined Hallmark and Royals headquarters.
The Rays named AECOM Hunt/Turner to build a $2.3 billion stadium on Hillsborough College campus, with construction potentially starting this fall and a 2029 opening target, pending city and county financing approvals. AECOM Hunt, which remodeled Tropicana Field, led a four-bid process with Mortenson Beck finishing second. The project faces a tight 31-month timeline that hinges on finalized financing, approvals, weather, and supply-chain considerations, and the final design and budget are not yet locked in, though an indoor-outdoor, glass-walled concept remains the goal.
Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey says the team is moving forward with an Indiana stadium, naming the Lost Marsh Golf Course in Hammond as a viable site and evaluating a second option at the Wolf Lake terminal, a slow and deliberate process that continues amid Illinois discussions, while Soldier Field remains the team’s home for now.
At Soldier Field’s rainy preseason game, Bears fans voiced mixed reactions to a possible move to Hammond, Indiana or Arlington Heights, Illinois: many want to stay in Illinois, some oppose Indiana, while others remain open but wary of costs and PSL changes; the saga continues as leaders defend the plan and fans weigh team identity, convenience, and money.
Bears chairman George McCaskey said the team is moving forward with a Hammond site for the stadium, with the Lost Marsh Golf Course identified as a viable option and the Wolf Lake terminal under review, emphasizing a deliberate, time-consuming process that requires patience from fans.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell privately met with select Illinois lawmakers to discuss the Bears’ stadium plans, with Hammond, Indiana cited as leverage to spur a decision in Arlington Heights or Chicago; rising project costs complicate a solution, leaving the Bears’ future location uncertain.
Bears president Kevin Warren says the team’s sole focus is building a stadium in Hammond, Indiana, but they’re still in talks with Illinois, signaling Indiana isn’t the only option for a move.
Chicago Bears officials say a decision on relocating to Indiana is imminent but have not announced a timeline, with Hammond’s Lost Marsh and the nearby Wolf Lake site cited as viable options. Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a stadium bill, leaving Arlington Heights in limbo while the team continues financing talks and prioritizes a world‑class stadium experience, prompting fan frustration over years of shifting plans and delays.
The Chicago Bears announced they are advancing plans for a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, evaluating two sites near Wolf Lake for a stadium and surrounding mixed-use development, while maintaining communications with Indiana lawmakers and facing stalled talks on Illinois incentives.
George McCaskey said the Chicago Bears will remain the Chicago Bears and keep the team name even if a new stadium is built in Hammond, Indiana, noting the move would not result in a rebranding to Indiana Bears; the actual move is uncertain and may be bluffing.
The Bills’ $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium uses a vertical, stacked-tier design by Populous to bring fans closer to the field and boost atmosphere, accepting some obstructed sightlines; the architect says this tradeoff is intentional, the team will refine seats after fan feedback, and virtual tours guided PSL purchases ahead of the home opener.