Hillsborough County Commissioner Josh Wostal wants documents related to the Tampa Bay Rays stadium negotiations to be released to the public — and soon.
In an agenda item released Thursday evening ahead of next week’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, Wostal recommended a motion to compel the release of records. It would require county staff and attorneys and the Tampa Sports Authority to release “all draft documents and personal notes” concerning a deal with the Rays by 5 p.m. Wednesday, the same day as the meeting.
“This is to ensure at least a miniscule amount of public transparency in what could be the single largest taxpayer burden in Hillsborough County’s history,” the item reads.
The Rays hope to build a $2.3 billion, 30,000-seat stadium at the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough College ready for opening day in 2029. Its owners have committed to paying for half the stadium cost and any overruns — leaving the other $1.15 billion to the city and county.
Hillsborough commissioners could vote on an agreement as early as April 15, with the Tampa City Council expected to vote the following day.
Neither the County Commission nor the City Council have held public workshops ahead of the votes.
“Right now it’s all hands on deck,” Tampa City Council chairperson Alan Clendenin, who also serves on the Tampa Sports Authority, said in a text to the Tampa Bay Times earlier this month. “We have a lot of city (and) county staff and consultants working on this project.”
Wostal told the Times that both the Rays and county staff told him a term sheet outlining a financing agreement with the team would be released this week. He recommended the motion after he was informed by staff on Thursday that its release had been delayed.
A spokesperson for the Rays did not immediately respond to a phone call requesting comment.
The commissioner said he wants to schedule a public hearing to discuss the deal. If a vote is scheduled without a public hearing, Wostal said he plans to motion to delay it.
“People at a minimum deserve transparency,” Wostal said. “And we are playing hide the ball?“
