St. Pete approves bonds for Rays ballpark, saving deal — for now

After weeks of threats and delays, the agreement for the Tampa Bay Rays to build a new stadium took a positive, though tentative, step forward.

By Louis Llovio
| 6:20 p.m. December 5, 2024
| 0 Free Articles Remaining!

After years of trying to get a new ballpark built, the Tampa Bay Rays are on the brink of finalizing its plans.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

St. Petersburg’s City Council voted Thursday to approve more than $280 million in bonds to help build a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays, one of two local government votes needed to potentially save a deal approved in July.

The Pinellas County commission is scheduled to take up its portion of the bond financing — $312.5 million that is tied to bed tax revenue — at a Dec. 17 meeting.

Thursday’s vote was 4-3. Council members Richie Floyd, Lisset Hanewicz and John Muhammad voted against approving the bonds. They also voted against the deal in July.