Tampa Council Backs $80 Million Pact With Rays Owners

Tampa's City Council approved an $80 million community benefits agreement tied to the Tampa Bay Rays' ownership on Thursday, clearing a key step for the proposed ballpark plan. The agreement sets out community investments alongside the stadium proposal.

The measure passed even as several council members raised concerns about where money for a new stadium would come from. Details on funding sources were not discussed at the meeting.

The vote came after years of talks about the Rays' future in the region. The team has played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, and Tampa and St. Petersburg have competed for a new home. Community benefits agreements are common tools cities use to secure commitments on jobs, local hiring and neighborhood investment around major development projects.

Council members who backed the pact said the benefits to Tampa residents were worth the commitment. Those with reservations focused on the stadium financing. No council member who spoke against the measure was named in the reporting on the meeting.

The next step involves the details of funding a new stadium. The Rays' owners have not released a financing plan, and the city has not announced a timeline for construction. The $80 million community benefits agreement is set to be paid over the life of the deal.