Pinellas County approves term sheet with Phillies for campus revamps
Pinellas County commissioners on Tuesday approved a term sheet for funding a revamp of the Philadelphia Phillies' spring training complex in Clearwater. The county will contribute $85 million in tourist development money toward the $205 million project. ©Luis Santana Pinellas County on Tuesday approved a term sheet with the Philadelphia Phillies for a major revamp of the team’s spring training complex in Clearwater.
Under the non-binding term sheet, the countywould contribute $85 million in tourist development tax money toward the project . The vote passed 6-1, with Commissioner Brian Scott the lone “no” vote. As the county has discussed the agreement in recent weeks, Scott has shared his concerns regarding the public contribution to the project.
“I absolutely believe that we should be at the table with this, and we should be supporting the Phillies,” Scott said. “I just think this is a lopsided deal. ” County Commissioner Chris Latvala compared the deal to that of the Tampa Bay Rays, who are seeking just more than $1 billion in public money for a new stadium in Hillsborough County after a plan to keep the team in Pinellas fell through last year.
Although the Phillies’ request for touristtax money has increased from $40 million in 2019, the overall project cost has decreased. Officials in 2022 said the renovations could total $300 million. “Last year we dealt with another stadium issue that caused a lot of headaches for a lot of folks,” Latvala said.
“I voted against that because the citizens and residents of the city of St. Pete, I believe, were getting hoaxed. ” The Phillies renovation project is expected to cost $205 million.