“Tampa Bay Rays: Let’s Make a Deal” This is Something to Think About 04.20.26

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“Tampa Bay Rays: Let’s Make a Deal”

Bill Bunkley’s “This Is Something to Think About”

Air Date Monday, April 20, 2026

The Hillsborough County Commission conducted a workshop to consider what, if any, financial obligations it will make to build a state-of-the-art Major League Baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Fierce opposition to the deal is led by Commissioner Josh Wostal.

Leading the debate in support of county financial support is Commissioner Ken Hagen, a 20-year advocate for a Tampa-based Rays' stadium. Hagen admits the Rays must present additional compromises to their current $1.15 billion ask of taxpayer dollars.

Hagen promises that the initial memorandum presented at the workshop will soon look dramatically different.

Both sides should study President Donald Trump’s book, The Art of the Deal. This must be a win-win for both taxpayers and the team.

Bill Bunkley is a 20-year veteran Salem Media talk show host based in Tampa. The Bill Bunkley Show airs on weekdays from 3 to 5 pm across central Florida. Bill is also President of the Florida Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the legislative consultant to the Florida Baptist State Convention (Southern Baptist Convention Churches), among other churches and entities. He has served as the legislative consultant to the Florida Baptist State Convention for the last 30 years at the state capitol in Tallahassee. By the Grace of his Lord Jesus, he is a cancer survivor diagnosed in 2018 with AML Leukemia, having successfully undergone a bone marrow transplant that same year. In 2025, he underwent successful open-heart surgery to repair a heart valve. His wife is Toni, his son is Zac, and he attends Idlewild Baptist Church.

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