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Rays unveil ballpark plan
The Tampa Bay Rays held their official ballpark proposal unveiling this afternoon with the help of Gov. Charlie Crist, who strongly supports the plan and state money likely needed to help finance it. Watch the video here.
The $450 million plan calls for a high-tech, modern and intimate bayfront building of 34,000 seats with a covering something like a sail that could be pulled over the stadium when it rains. The plan is to build it at the Rays’ spring training home, Al Lang Field, and open it in 2012.
Many questions remain about the financing, which relies in part on a $60 million state sales tax rebate and revenue from a major overhaul of the area where the Rays current home, Tropicana Field, is located. A development company is working on plans to turn the area into a mixed use retail and residential project. Additionally St. Petersburg voters would need to approve the plan since it requires the lease of waterfront property and the team is targeting a November 2008 election.
Meanwhile in South Florida, officials still hope to announce next month a new financing plan for a ballpark for the Marlins at the site of the Orange Bowl.
Comments
I agree about the lightning dangers in that stadium. I won't go near it in the summer... which is baseball season isn't it?
I bet those designers are trying to save a few bucks so they can get it approved, those sneaky little devils!
Where are all the people going to go when the lightning warning sirens go off? I mean all 79 fans will need a place to retreat to? Not their cars.
Wait. Hey, build a stadium so that people stay in their cars and watch, you know, a tiered 'old drive-in style' stadium.
Posted by: tony | November 29, 2007 8:19 PM
What did I just read about a sail material for a roof?
Hey this stadium in in "lightning alley"...no sail cloth will protect spectators under it from getting zapped.
They better rethink the roof!
Posted by: BB | November 29, 2007 8:04 PM
WHEN THE PUBLIC INVESTS WITH A BALL TEAM, WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC GET IN RETURN? A PART OF FUTURE PROFITS?
Posted by: Marcy Bernstein | November 29, 2007 3:57 PM
If I was a RAY FAN which I'AM NOT I WOULD DROWN MYSELF, TYHIS IS A BAD IDEA
THEY SHOULD COMBINE THE RAYS AND MARLINS AND MAKE 1 BAD TEAM THAT SUX
Posted by: IP FREELY | November 29, 2007 2:35 PM
i don't think they should put it near water, whta if people drown in the water,,,
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
never thought about that, did you ???
Posted by: herb laurent | November 29, 2007 2:31 PM
The cruddy Rays will have a beautiful stadium in a very nice area and the Marlins, with 2 WS championships, might get the old Orange Bowl site. Gee, that sounds really nice. I grew up in St. Pete and that is an awesome place to put the stadium replacing the old one there. I'm not a baseball fan, but I'd go there just to sit there and view the water.
Posted by: vdk | November 29, 2007 9:44 AM
Wouldn't it be interesting if the South Florida legislators led the fight against the sales tax rebate like they Central Florida and North Florida contingent did to us with the Marlins Stadium?
Posted by: Jerry | November 29, 2007 9:34 AM