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:

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/5/15/3485
98.html?title=Rays+presenting+stadium+plan+to+St.+
Pete+City+Council

In the meantime, here are some artist renditions of the new ball park which will feature a retractable sail like cloth sunshade.

The exterior of Rays Park, notice the sail like sun shade apparatus...

A view inside the ball park...

Right field leads to the bay, reminiscent of the Giant's McCovey Cove in San Francisco...

Another view looking at the downtown St. Petersburg skyline...

Once again you can spy the bay beyond right field...

Let's Go Rays!