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.

#county #home #million #hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH, Ore. — Walking through the brand new training center of the Portland Thorns and the Portland Fire is a practice in seeing double.
The 100,000-square-foot facility, which cost more than $150 million, houses two full-sized basketball courts for the WNBA expansion team, and two full-sized soccer fields — one grass, one turf — for the three-time NWSL champion Thorns.
There are two team lounges, one for each team, outfitted with plush couches, throw pillows and blankets, and plenty of the athletes' preferred snacks, from Cheez-Its to peanut ******* er and jelly-filled dates. Two locker rooms with ample shelf ******* e for each player (plus a little extra for goalkeepers) and a USB-C outlet inside each locker so players can charge their devices while they train. Two meeting rooms for teams and operations staff. Two saunas pierced with sleek, recessed lighting.
But the common ******* es at the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center are just as intentional.
The treatment area, 5,000-square-foot weight room, and cafeteria are shared by both teams. That is where professional soccer player-turned-women's sports executive Karina LeBlanc believes the real transformation can happen.

#foot #full #Soccer

Four people were arrested after authorities said hundreds of vehicles blocked all northbound lanes of Interstate 75 during an apparent street takeover in Hillsborough County, Florida early Saturday, prompting a high-speed chase that reached 140 mph.
The incident began around 1:30 a.m. near mile marker 266 in Thonotosassa, where Florida Highway Patrol traffic cameras captured a large gathering of vehicles stopping traffic while some drivers performed burnouts in the middle of the interstate, according to an arrest report.
As troopers responded to the scene, video showed vehicles rapidly dispersing as drivers and spectators rushed back to their cars, the report said. While most of those involved were allowed to leave without facing charges, one green BMW allegedly sped away from the scene, leading a trooper to initiate a pursuit.
Florida Man In Bunny Helmet Allegedly Led Police On 120 Mph Chase Before Surrendering To Troopers
According to FHP, the BMW accelerated to approximately 140 mph — about twice the posted speed limit — before exiting the interstate and eventually stopping in a parking lot.

#interstate #vehicles #chase #troopers

Former Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold has an arraignment hearing before a judge in Tampa scheduled for Aug. 13, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports. He faces eight felony charges of kidnapping and robbery from his arrest last month.
The Lions released Arnold a day before he posted a $1 million bond and left the Hillsborough County (Florida) jail.
He was arrested on four counts each of kidnapping and armed robbery, which could bring a life sentence if he is convicted.
The former first-round pick has drawn interest from the Colts, Jets, Seahawks and Texans, his agent, Nicole Lynn, testified before a judge on July 10. He remains a free agent as training camps begin to open.

#lions #judge #kidnapping #greg

Four NFL teams have expressed an interest in former Detroit Lion cornerback Terrion Arnold since he was released from the Lions in late June, his agent revealed Friday during a court hearing.
Nicole Lynn, Arnold's agent, testified during a Zoom hearing on Friday in Hillsborough County Circuit Court in Tampa that the four teams are the Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, and Houston Texans.
She said Arnold had a workout with the Houston Texans on Thursday, where the team paid for him to fly in, and he had another visit this week and has one next week as well.
Arnold's attorney asked a judge to deny a request by Florida prosecutors to require Arnold to wear a GPS tether while he faces criminal charges related to an armed robbery and kidnapping plot that happened in Tampa in February. He's one of seven people who have been charged.
Harvey Steinberg, Arnold's attorney, said last week that three teams had already expressed an interest in Arnold, but that's now grown to four. A judge on Friday denied prosecutors' request to require the cornerback to wear a GPS tether.

Sheffield Wednesday are targeting Bristol City goalkeeper Joe Lumley as a potential replacement for Manchester City-bound Pierce Charles. Lumley had a loan spell at Hillsborough last season. (The Wednesday Word)
You can find more of Wednesday's EFL gossip here.

Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold cleared waivers on Monday, making him a free agent who is eligible to sign with another team in the NFL.
More: Former Lion Terrion Arnold contacted by 3 NFL teams after team release: attorney
Arnold, 23, was released by the Lions on June 29 after he was arrested in connection to an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred in February.
Arnold posted a $1 million bond and was released from the Hillsborough County Jail on June 30 after a judge denied the prosecution’s motion to keep him detained without bail.
The prosecution also pushed for Arnold to have a GPS tether, an effort denied by Chief Judge Christopher Sabella after Arnold’s defense argued a tether would interfere with his ability to play football.

The NFL Detroit Lions released cornerback Terrion Arnold on Monday after his arrest last week in Florida on eight felony charges in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping.
Arnold, 23, turned himself over to authorities last week and remained in jail on Monday when a judge set a $1 million bond for him, denying a prosecution request he be held without bond.
The judge, Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Sabella, also refused to order an ankle monitor as a condition of bond.
Arnold was ordered to stay at his home in Tallahassee except while playing, traveling or training with an NFL club, only to be dropped by the Lions hours later.
Four charges against Arnold were for robbery with a deadly weapon or firearm and four others were four kidnapping, the Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office told the NFL's website.

June 25 (UPI) -- Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was arrested on felony robbery and kidnapping charges, the Hillsborough County (Fla.) state attorney said.
State Attorney Susan S. Lopez announced the arrest Wednesday night and said her office will file the charges. His arrest is in connection with a robbery and kidnapping in February in Tampa, Fla.
"We are aware of the legal situation regarding Terrion Arnold," the Lions said in a statement. "We will not comment at this time out of respect for the ongoing legal process."
Arnold was arrested at 9:23 p.m. EDT Wednesday and booked at 10:11 p.m. at Falkenburg Road Jail. He is being held without bond. The NFL has contacted the Lions to discuss the matter.
Arnold denied his involvement through a statement released by his agent.

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold voluntarily surrendered to authorities on June 24 in Florida after facing an arrest warrant in connection with a robbery and kidnapping in Tampa, according to the Florida state attorney's office in Hillsborough County.
The Florida state attorney's office announced in a press release that Arnold will face "multiple felony charges which carry a potential sentence of up to life in prison."
Police say Arnold was the primary conspirator in the alleged robbery and kidnapping plot. Arnold is now facing four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery.
Arnold has previously denied involvement in "what prosecutors allege was a revenge crime some of his ***** ociates are now charged with and awaiting trial for without bond in Florida," according to police interviews and incident reports obtained by the Detroit Free Press earlier this year.
Here's what we know about Arnold's arrest and the accusations against him:

Faizon Love rolled into a Hillsborough County, Florida, courtroom Friday (June 19) in a red prison jumpsuit and a wheelchair, shackled at the wrists, after spending more than two weeks behind bars on contempt-of-court charges tied to a child support dispute.
The actor was arrested on June 16 on two counts of contempt of court, originating from a warrant out of Hillsborough County. He had first been picked up in Riverside County, California and spent 16 days in jail before being transferred to Florida. Attorney Glen R. Lansky confirmed the cross-country transport, telling the NY Post he was moved "on orders of contempt from the Honorable Judge Mark Kiser."
At the center of the case is a child support dispute involving his ex, Tiffany Lee. She claims Love owes roughly $250,000 in missed payments at a court-ordered rate of $2,500 per month. Her attorney argued he had not made the required payments in years. Lee, appearing by video call, alleged Love told her directly that she "wasn't going to get a dime" and that he intended to stop working and cancel shows to avoid paying.
When his own attorney asked Love in open court whether he currently had the ability to pay $2,500 a month, he answered plainly: "Right now? No."
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Terrion Arnold was tasked with revitalizing the Detroit Lions aging secondary. Instead, his career may be over after two seasons and 24 games.
The talented young cornerback lived up to his first round draft billing as a rookie. He was a key part of the Lions' 15-2 run in 2024, earning rookie of the year votes thanks to 15 starts, 10 passes defensed and a 55.6 percent completion rate allowed when targeted. Injuries prevented him from building on that solid start; a shoulder injury cut his season short after eight games of subpar coverage.
He may not have the chance to prove himself in 2026. On Wednesday night, Florida's Hillsborough County State Attorney announced he'd been arrested and is awaiting felony charges of robbery and kidnapping related to a February altercation in Tampa.
Arnold denied any wrongdoing in a statement released shortly after news of his arrest broke.
Terrion Arnold's rookie contract is worth a fully guaranteed $14.3 million over four years. The Lions hold a fifth-year contract that would be worth approximately another $14 million if they opted to pick it up next offseason. That was already in question -- Arnold had been told he had to earn a starting spot in training camp this summer. Now, it seems like a long shot.