Tampa City Council Chair Alan Clendenin said Tuesday that terms of the public financing request for a proposed Rays ballpark at Hillsborough College’s main campus have “not been finalized despite growing calls for their disclosure,” according to Colleen Wright of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Clendenin, who is a member of the Tampa Sports Authority, said at the agency’s meeting Tuesday it is “not even put to pencil at this point.” Wright noted the city and county have “forecast possible votes on an agreement April 15 and 16, respectively.” Clendenin said, “It’s still all in flux. They’re still negotiating everything. There’s still some very consequential items to be resolved.” Sports Authority CEO Eric Hart said that Tampa and Hillsborough County are “awaiting an economic impact analysis on both the stadium and mixed-use development by AECOM,” which is “expected by the end of the week.” Hart said that he “expects there to be five or six major agreements,” with “15 or 16 sub-agreements that still need to be worked out.” Clendenin noted that there would “not be a vote before AECOM presents its study because the city needs to verify assumptions made by the Rays” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/31).
ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS: In Tampa, Nicolas Villamil noted Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers has “added a potentially pivotal item” to the agenda for Wednesday’s commission meeting. Myers is recommending a motion that, if “supported by a majority of the seven member board, would ask the county attorney’s office a central question: Can money from Hillsborough’s half-cent sales tax help pay for a county-owned stadium?” The attorney’s opinion, if requested, could “prove decisive” for the Rays’ pursuit of a ballpark in Tampa. Money from the Community Investment Tax “represents the biggest share” of public money the team is seeking. The team’s latest financing proposal is reportedly “built around” $467M from the county’s slice of the tax. If Myers’ motion passes, the county attorney’s opinion could “significantly influence the outcome” of any proposed deal between Hillsborough and the Rays (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/31).
FULL BACKING: In Tampa, Marc Topkin noted the Yankees issued a statement Tuesday night “calling the project ‘a defining opportunity’ for the community” and saying that they “‘fully’ support the Rays’ plans — as long as the money spent doesn’t impact funding for other existing sports facilities.” Ever since the Rays announced plans to build a ballpark on the Hillsborough College site adjacent to Steinbrenner Field, there has “been speculation” about what the Yankees think of the project. The Yankees in their letter wrote, “While the Yankees compete with the Tampa Bay Rays on the field, we are partners here in Tampa Bay. The construction of a new ballpark adjacent to George M. Steinbrenner Field is a defining opportunity to continue the county’s growth and deliver a game day experience that Rays fans have more than earned. Our organization fully supports the thoughtful approach being used to fund the Rays ballpark project, as it aligns with decades of similar successful strategic investment decisions directed by the County, City and Sports Authority. We also trust that our municipal partners will retain previously earmarked funds for Tampa’s other professional sports venues and continue to consider their needs in the decades to come” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/31).