TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays got county approval Friday on a financing plan that will allow them to build a new stadium, a day after city officials approved their part for the $2.3 billion ballpark project that will replace the domed Tropicana Field.
The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 on Friday to approve its $796 million share of the mixed-use entertainment district that includes a new 31,000-seat stadium that will be near Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rays' new stadium is expected to open in 2029. The Tampa City Council city voted 4-3 on Thursday to approve $80 million.
Rays CEO Ken Babby said the team’s partnership with the county and city on the project secures the long-term future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay.
“We now look forward to celebrating before breaking ground with Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa on a future that has long been doubted, but will indeed happen,” Babby said. “By making the Forever Home a reality, the Rays are now home forever in Tampa Bay.”
The Rays have committed to contributing at least $1.3 billion, plus any cost overruns. Another $30 million will come from federal disaster recovery funds.
The Rays ownership reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to build the stadium and entertainment district on the campus and to renovate some of the school’s buildings. The property is located next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from the NFL stadium.
Since the team's inception in 1998, the Rays have played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, except for moving home games to the Yankees’ George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025 following hurricane damage at the Trop. The Rays’ lease runs through at least the 2028 season. The team returned to the Trop last month for the start of this season.
A proposed $1.3 billion redevelopment deal for a new ballpark adjacent to the Trop fell through last year, raising new questions about the future of the team, which was bought last September by Patrick Zalupski’s ownership group.
“This has been a long and challenging process, and we know that transformational projects rarely come easily,” Zalupski said Friday. “Today’s vote represents an extraordinary milestone, not simply for the Rays or for a ballpark, but for the future of Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay region.”
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FILE - Players from the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays are introduced before a baseball game Monday, April 6, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Michael Wacha dominated Cleveland's lineup by allowing just four singles over eight innings as the Kansas City Royals stayed scorching hot with a 3-0 win on Friday night to end the Guardians' winning streak at seven games.
Wacha (8-8) was in control from his first pitch to his 103rd and cooled off the Guardians, who just returned from a 6-0 trip to Colorado and Los Angeles.
Rookie Carter Jensen hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Royals, who have won 11 of 12 and are 23-16 since the All-Star break.
Wacha, who leads the AL with 18 quality starts, walked none and struck out a season-high 10. The Guardians only got one runner past second base against the right-hander. Wacha improved to 6-1 against AL Central teams in 2026.
Steven Cruz loaded the bases in the ninth on two singles and a hit batter before retiring Angel Genao on a comebacker for his sixth save.
Clinging to a 1-0 lead, Jensen gave the Royals two huge runs in the ninth by belting his 19th homer, a shot to right off reliever Craig Yoho.
Tanner Bibee (5-14) suffered another tough loss for Cleveland. He only allowed one run in six innings, but the Guardians' offense couldn't get anything going against Wacha.
Bibee came in getting an average of just 3.17 runs of support per game — third-lowest in MLB.
After missing some early scoring chances, the Royals finally pushed across a run in the fifth inning against Bibee.
Bobby Witt Jr., whose return from the injured list earlier this month has helped fuel Kansas City's recent tear, doubled and went to third on a flyout. Salvador Perez brought him home with a hard groundout.
Royals LHP Daniel Lynch (4-4, 2.93 ERA) starts against LHP Foster Griffin (15-4, 3.19), who is 3-1 with Cleveland since coming over in a deadline trade.
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Kansas City Royals' Josh Rojas (40) gestures from second base after hitting a double in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Guardians' Tanner Bibee pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. celebrates in the dugout after scoring in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio, left, tumbles over Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone, right, on a pick off attempt in the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Kansas City Royals' Michael Wacha (52) pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
