The St. Petersburg City Council just concluded hearing a presentation by the Tampa Bay Rays' management concerning construction of a new bay side, open air ball park in downtown St. Petersburg. The funding plan has five elements none of which are supposed to cost the taxpayers any additional tax dollars. The plan, if approved, is intended to actually yield money to the city and county. These revenue funds could potentially aid local schools among other things. If they can pull this off, it certainly sounds like a winner! Here is a quote from Michael Kalt, the Rays' senior vice president of development and business affairs:
"We think that we can offer fans a more compelling product down on the waterfront -- not just in terms of what happens inside the ballpark -- but the whole experience of coming downtown going to a restaurant getting something to eat, getting something to drink, basically really drawing in the casual fan who's not necessarily someone who's not just coming to watch the game but really is coming more as a social activity. That's the kind of fan we need to grow and attract."
For complete details follow this link to Bay News 9, the local Brighthouse Cable News channel:
From what I understand some of the costs are being offset by the sale of the property where Tropicana Field now stands.Also having lived in the Bay area all my life, the sun screen is a good idea.I just wonder about the afternoon storms that move through our area just about every afternoon in the summer. I don't mind getting wet, but the lightning can get pretty fierce
I hear ya on the lightning! I moved to the area a couple of years ago and never witnessed lightning like I've seen here... I'm sure that sail is simply a sun screen, I can't imagine it being deployed in a windy rain storm, but who knows? Maybe it will do that too! The upside is a natural turf. The other thing I'm wondering about is night games and the flying insects...
Good for Tampa! I've been to the area many times and have a soft spot for the teams. Still don't really like the location of downtown St. Pete, that's quite a trek for those in Tampa. I'd think a more central location would be better, if possible. Maybe the Largo/Clearwater area?
The proposed site already is a ballpark. It was up until this spring, the home of the Rays spring training games. Next spring they will move down to Fort Meyers (I think that's right but maybe it's Coral Gables, anyway it's south of here). It's actually a beautiful site right next to the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida. It's less than 20 miles from downtown Tampa.
Dwindy 1
I've got to commend the Rays' ownership with the way that they've gone about doing this. Unlike the ownership of the Marlins that've cried poverty from the getgo.
Jeffrey Loria as their owner is one the wealthiest men in all of sports. But he's been bitc*hin' and cryin' like a child 'cause he couldn't get his way or browbeat the various government agencies within the state and South Florida.
Andrew Friedman and Stuart Sternberg (Rays' syndicate ownership group) chose to work with the municipalities within the area to get things done in the right way. And it has worked out fine for all the parties concerned.
It certainly looks promising right now. Having a cost nuetral proposal will go a long way toward getting this deal approved! I know that the current Tropicana site plays a big role in all of this, but it's in an excellent location for development... Then they top it off by claiming their proposal will ultimately generate revenue for the city and county! Who would be against that?
Is this new stadium going to go where the IRL street course is now located? The old minor league park is inside of the race course. If it is going there, I wonder what will become of that race?
It is the minor league ball park on that course. Don't quote me on this, but the talk I've heard concerns it enhancing the race as it will add high rise parking to the scene. Parking right now is a nightmare when the race is in town. The Rays would simply have to be scheduled out of town during race week...
If what I've heard is true, this will be one more reason to go ahead with the new stadium...
Hey Dwindy - Nice piece! I've liked the plan from the beginning except for the fact it is an open air ball park. I like the 72 degrees and no humidity atmosphere at the Trop.
As of last week the race is an issue. The Rays are supposed to come up with some plan that doesn't interfere or at least allows adjustment to the course. During construction will be the real problem.
I wasn't sure on the race deal... I think once it's all said and done it will be an enhancement to the race. I guess the question is just getting to that point.
Do you think that cloth cover is to be used for rain protection or just as a sun screen?
I like it. The Rays organization, even when they haven't been winning, is miles ahead of the Marlins in terms of considering the fans. I think this is just another example.
I've been to the current stadium and it's actually not bad. But I do think you need something like this to spark interest in the team.
I sure hope you're right Dudski... They just took 3 out of 4 from the Yanks after sweeping the Angels, they lead the AL East and yet the fans aren't showing up. They have two different seating rates one for the Yanks and Red Sox and another, lower rate for everyone else. Hopefully that has something to do with it. If the new stadium follows what I've seen in Safeco Field in Seattle, with nice restaurants and clubs, kids areas, etc. that will help. A big improvement would be handy low priced parking too. Then the fans will come for sure!
Dwindy...that's great news! Is it coincidence that they take the "devil" out of the name and nothing but good things happen. Currently 1st place with a franchise best record and a future new stadium..nice!
It'll be like San Francisco with a sail! It'll be like Pittsburgh or Cincinnati or St. Louis on the rivers or Seattle without the cold! It'll be like Omaha... no can't go there yet, but maybe someday!
Dwindy 1
It bodes well for the city and the surrounding vicinities. It'll certinly do wonders for the city itself and it won't have to think of itself as the little engine that couldn't. As it now can count itself amongst the big boys finally.
I lived in Washington state when the Mariners were on the verge of leaving town (in favor of St. Petersburg by the way) and then the young team came together under Lou Piniella and one good thing led to another. They struck when the iron was hot and walla! they got a brand new state of the art stadium!
Whether it's divine intervention with the name change only the dear Lord knows for sure, but the new Rays are sure a fun team to watch right now and it appears they're taking a page out of the Mariner's game plan on getting a stadium done...
I'm sure you're familiar with the site. That whole area is beautiful with the yacht harbor right there and the University complex. If the young Rays team keeps performing the way they have been, and I don't think there's any reason to doubt it, then I see that as driving this stadium deal to completion and they'll work out the details about parking and the open wheel race...
Yes, St. Pete will become world class! Tampa Bay could possibly become a candidate for a future Olympics, wouldn't that be something?
Dwindy1
I live within the vicinity as I live in Polk Co , Fl. I'm midway between Tampa and Orlando. So as such it wouldn't be all that much trouble for me to travel to see a game.
However I'm an avid Marlins' fan and that's where my allegiances lie at present. But I can tell you this I've tried to keep abreast as to what's been happening with the franchise. I must admit also that I was critical of ownership and their lack of dealing with many of the issues. But it now seems that they're on the right path. Naimoli the previous owner was something of a pious as*shole parading his wares as if he owned the damn place and alienating much of the goodwill that they'd created in the first place.
Dwindy1
I live within the vicinity as I live in Polk Co , Fl. I'm midway between Tampa and Orlando. So as such it wouldn't be all that much trouble for me to travel to see a game.
However I'm an avid Marlins' fan and that's where my allegiances lie at present. But I can tell you this I've tried to keep abreast as to what's been happening with the franchise. I must admit also that I was critical of ownership and their lack of dealing with many of the issues. But it now seems that they're on the right path. Naimoli the previous owner was something of a pious as*shole parading his wares as if he owned the damn place and alienating much of the goodwill that they'd created in the first place.
I'm a sports fanatic living on the west coast of Florida. I'm a rare bird that moved here from the left coast a couple of years ago. I advocate an even playing field in all of life's endeavors.
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