Tampa City Council, on a 4-3 vote with Council Members Charlie Miranda, Guido Maniscalco and Lynn Hurtak voting no, approved the funding and development agreement with the Rays at their August 27, 2026 meeting.
Despite the language in the agreement being altered right up to the morning of the vote, Council Members Bill Carlson, Luis Viera, Naya Young and Chair Alan Clendenin agreed in the first of many votes to contribute to the Tampa Bay Rays $80 million in four $20 million payments. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Dennis Rogero laid out for council it was the city’s intention to borrow at least the first $20M. The remaining payments start October 1, 2027 and will be at the discretion of the next mayor and council. CFO Rogero emphasized the city isn’t handing the Rays a blank check, the Rays must submit proof of work for “horizontal infrastructure” to be reimbursed.
First of many votes because the agreement is a framework reliant on many, many steps and processes for all of the elements to be realized. None of the language in the agreement related to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) was codified by the vote. While the CRA Board was technically in a special call meeting, they weren’t party to the agreement and took no action. Future votes related to the Interlocal Agreement with the county will be required to approve the proposed changes — which were altered from the original agreement posted when the agenda was first published.