Hillsborough County Tourist Taxes To Fund Over $300 Million For New Tampa Bay Rays Stadium
A new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays is being funded in part by over $300 million from tourist development taxes (bed tax) collected from hotel stays in Hillsborough County. This funding mechanism, previously established by hotel owners as an…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, August 29, 2026 — The construction of a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays will receive a significant financial contribution, exceeding $300 million, sourced from tourist development taxes collected within Hillsborough County. These taxes, commonly referred to as the bed tax, are levied on hotel stays.
The funding mechanism was reportedly established by hotel owners as an investment intended to bolster the Tampa market. This allocated sum represents a portion of the total $2.3 billion cost for the new venue. The financial details indicate that these tourist development taxes will play a key role in the stadium’s overall financing.
The planned stadium is expected to serve as a venue for a wide array of events beyond baseball games. Officials anticipate that the new facility will act as a catalyst for increased tourism within the Tampa Bay region. This projected rise in visitor activity is intended to generate broader economic benefits, positively impacting businesses throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Further details regarding the specific timeline for construction or the types of events planned beyond sports were not provided in the summary. The exact distribution of the $300 million from bed taxes over the construction period was also not specified.
Story summarized from the original created by Haley Zarcone on www.tampabay28.com, see more information here.
