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The Tampa Sports Authority is preparing to formally inform Hillsborough County and Tampa leaders that renovations to Raymond James Stadium should be prioritized over public funding for the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium.
The TSA board on Tuesday passed a draft letter to local elected officials expressing concerns that available public funds could be limited if the city and county move forward with the Rays Stadium deal while simultaneously facing property tax reform expected later this year. Tampa City Council President Alan Clendenin, who also serves on the TSA board, voted against the motion.
Although the final language of the letter has not yet been approved, the message is expected to make clear that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Raymond James Stadium are the agency’s top priorities. TSA Board Member Tony Muniz said counties should be made aware of the board’s concerns before additional public funds are spent elsewhere.
“I think we should let the county know that we are very concerned,” Muniz said while making the motion. “We have limited funds, so we have to take care of our current tenants. I think we need to take care of the Buccaneers first before we put our excess money in another organization.”
The Buccaneers are currently negotiating with the athletic department to extend their lease at Raymond James Stadium and plan a major renovation that could cost about $1 billion. TSA CEO Eric Hart said officials are still reviewing the project list, narrowing down the scope of possible stadium improvements and determining what funding will be available from cities and counties. When the Community Investment Levy was updated, local authorities identified potential sources of funding for Bucks from both CIT and Tourism Development Levy revenues.
Meanwhile, the Rays are pursuing a new Tampa stadium framework requesting $976 million in funding from Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa. The proposal includes $440 million from local investment taxes and $303 million from tourism-related funds. TSA’s finance committee last week expressed concerns about whether the Bucs would have enough money left if the Rays deal moves forward.
“We continue to work with our county and city partners to finalize the documentation of this generational project for our community,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a statement.
Clendenin, who supports the Rays’ proposal and previously voted with the City Council to advance negotiations with the team, called the TSA’s letter unnecessary and inappropriate. He said a non-binding memorandum of understanding regarding the contract with the Rays has already been finalized and the team is currently negotiating the final document.
“That’s the Tampa sports department, not the Bucs sports department,” Clendenin said before voting against the motion. “Fiscal responsibility lies with the entities that fund this organization, such as the County Commission and the Tampa City Council. In fact, the Tampa Sports Authority does not fund anything.”
TSA Director Joe Robinson pushed back, asking Hart if the agency had issued bonds before. Hart said the TSA issued bonds for Raymond James Stadium, Benchmark International Arena, parking garages and Steinbrenner Field because those facilities were originally owned by the agency.
“The county had all the money it wanted, but [when] “They needed to issue a bond and they came to us,” Robinson said. “We have some authority. We’ll move forward with the letter.”
The letter will be signed by Patrick Manteiga, Chairman of the TSA Board of Directors. The draft will be shared with board members before being sent to county and city officials.
