The Tampa Bay Rays new $1.3 billion stadium, nestled in the middle of the 80-acre Gas Plant District redevelopment led by the Rays organization, is at risk of losing its public funding.
There were always those opposed to using public funds for a stadium, but those voices got new energy after Pinellas County suffered the effects of two hurricanes within just a few weeks.
Indeed, it would seem it’s much harder to allocate $600 million in tax dollars toward a new stadium when homes and beaches were destroyed and when the region’s infrastructure and public services have buckled in the face of repeat disasters.