Hillsborough County Taps Tampa Sports Authority for Rays Ballpark Construction Oversight, Secures $300K Contract

Hillsborough County commissioners voted 5-2 on September 16, 2026, to appoint the Tampa Sports Authority as the liaison for the proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark project. This decision tasks the Authority with bridging the gap between local government and developers throughout the construction process.

The Tampa Sports Authority's contract for these services is valued at $300,000. It handles all paperwork and fields questions from city and county officials, verifying work as it progresses. Skanska construction consults for the Authority, providing expertise and ensuring local officials remain informed during the extensive project.

Commissioner Harry Cohen emphasized the importance of this oversight, stating, "They wanted to make sure that they would have an opportunity to value engineer this ballpark as it is constructed. Because, after all, there is taxpayer money being used here. It’s going to be a public facility. And when we talk about a forever home for the Rays, if that means. That for the next 35 years at least, this facility is going to be our ballpark, and we want to make sure it’s constructed right."

Commissioners Cepeda and Wostal cast the dissenting votes, citing concerns about premature spending on consultants. Both commissioners had also rejected the original stadium project. No public money can go toward construction until bond votes pass. County officials have not yet set an exact date for these votes but aim for sometime this fall. The Rays can use their own funds to finalize designs in the interim. Once public funds are approved, the ballpark is expected to serve as the team's home for at least 35 years.