Tampa City Council approved a $2.36 billion stadium and redevelopment project for the Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 vote on Friday. The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 the previous day to provide a $796 million share, completing the financing package required for a 2029 opening.

The plan places the stadium at Hillsborough College, adjacent to the Dale Mabry campus, and includes public infrastructure, transportation, and community benefit components negotiated with police and fire unions, the construction trade group, and other stakeholders. Mayor Jane Castor, County Commission Chair Ken Hagan, Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater, Governor Ron DeSantis, and other officials participated in the negotiations. Opponents included County Commissioners Josh Wostal and Donna Cameron Cepeda, Tampa Sports Authority board member Andy Scaglione, and several other officials who voted against the measure. The agreement binds the Rays to remain in Tampa Bay for at least 35 years, while the long‑term effects on St. Petersburg and the surrounding area remain uncertain.