Rays Ballpark: Difference between revisions
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== Controversy == |
== Controversy == |
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The stadium plan has been a controversial one<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/22/Rays/Rays_park_hearing_dra.shtml|title=Rays park hearing draws a full house|accessdate=2008-03-31|publisher=[[St Petersburg Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/12/23/Art/Arts_community_feels_.shtml|title=Arts community feels crowded by Rays plan|accessdate=2008-03-31|publisher=[[St Petersburg Times]]}}</ref> |
The stadium plan has been a controversial one<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/22/Rays/Rays_park_hearing_dra.shtml|title=Rays park hearing draws a full house|accessdate=2008-03-31|publisher=[[St Petersburg Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/12/23/Art/Arts_community_feels_.shtml|title=Arts community feels crowded by Rays plan|accessdate=2008-03-31|publisher=[[St Petersburg Times]]}}</ref> |
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, with at least one group forming in opposition to the new stadium |
, with at least one group forming in opposition to the new stadium |
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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/03/Neighborhoodtimes/Anti_stadium_group_pl.shtml|title=Anti-stadium group plans to form political action committee|accessdate=2008-03-31|publisher=[[Creative Loafing Tampa]]}}</ref> |
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/03/Neighborhoodtimes/Anti_stadium_group_pl.shtml|title=Anti-stadium group plans to form political action committee|accessdate=2008-03-31|publisher=[[Creative Loafing Tampa]]}}</ref>, and one forming support for the new plan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/17/Neighborhoodtimes/Group_lends_positive_.shtml|title=Group lends positive voice to Rays plan|accessdate=2008-03-31|publisher=[[St Petersburg Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/22/me-council-hears-from-public-on-rays-stadium/|title=Council Hears From Public On Rays' Stadium|accessdate=2008-03-31|publisher=[[Tampa Tribune]]}}</ref>. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 20:34, 31 March 2008
(Current project title) | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | 1st Ave. SE and 1st St. S St. Petersburg, Florida |
|---|---|
| Owner | Unknown |
| Operator | Unknown |
| Capacity | 34,000 (expected) |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 2009 (expected) |
| Opened | April 2012 (expected) |
| Construction cost | $450 million (estimate) |
| Architect | HOK Sport |
| Tenants | |
| Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) (starting in 2012) | |
Rays Ballpark is the current name used in project documents for a planned ballpark that the Tampa Bay Rays are considering building to replace Tropicana Field. Although plans are not finalized, the Rays hope to complete the park in time for the 2012 season.
Proposal
The Tampa Bay Rays plan is to build a 34,000 seat [1] open air facility worth $450 million [2]. The plan calls for the new ballpark to be built at the current site of the Rays spring training facility, Al Lang Field and on .6 acres of land to be created by dredging and filling the Bay adjacent to the site.[3]. The ballpark would face the opposite way of Al Lang Field so home runs could be hit into the water like at AT&T Park in San Francisco and PNC Park in Pittsburgh. [4]
The design of the ballpark, as well as the redevelopment plan for Tropicana Field, was released on November 28, 2007. [5] Among the features proposed for the ballpark is the "Mast and Arch" retractable roof. It is a fabric screen that can be pulled over the field and most of the stands during periods of rain, thus providing protection from the elements while retaining the feel of an open-air stadium. The roof can supposedly be fully-deployed within eight minutes. In addition, the concourses will be enclosed and air-conditioned.
The plan website mentions that the simple act of moving from a dome to an open-air stadium will reduce the team's carbon footprint by up to 70%.[1]
On March 11, 2008, the Rays continued to move forward on plans for a downtown stadium by submitting a preliminary design consideration document to St. Petersburg officials. In addition, the organization announced that a detailed transportation and parking study had concluded that the Al Lang site in downtown St. Petersburg is well suited for the Rays' proposed waterfront ballpark.
Nearly 14,000 parking spaces that are likely to be available for the majority of ballpark events have been identified, a figure that does not include the nearly 7,000 on-street parking spaces that will remain available for downtown businesses, institutions and residents. Many of downtown's largest institutions have expressed an interest in working with the Rays to provide parking for ballpark patrons, including All Children's Hospital, Bayfront Medical Center, and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. [6]
Financing
Rays owner Stuart Sternberg is looking to contribute as much as $150 million or one third of the cost. [7] The team had also planned to seek Florida's 30-year, $60 million sales tax rebate for new sports venues. Although it is planned to fund the new park through the sale of redevelopment rights to Tropicana Field, it is projected to generate $800 million in new revenue. [8] However, on January 7, 2008, the Rays announced they would be "temporarily abandoning" plans for seeking the subsidy. [9] Using public funds in Florida to build a stadium may have proved to be too difficult; the Florida Marlins were on the verge of receiving public funds to build a new Marlins ballpark (which also fell through). Gov. Charlie Crist had announced that he would be interested in doing whatever he could to help the project reach fruition. [10]
Because the land Al Lang Field sits on is city property, city voters have to approve a new use for the land, a referendum that is expected to be on the November ballot. Then, to allow the city to forgo paying property taxes on the site (a loophole in Florida laws allows county governments to own stadiums tax-free), a long-term lease would be signed by the Rays and Pinellas County will then take control of the site, a similar arrangement of Tropicana Field. [11]
Controversy
The stadium plan has been a controversial one[12][13] , with at least one group forming in opposition to the new stadium [14], and one forming support for the new plan[15][16].
References
- ^ a b "Play Ball: Facts about the new ballpark". MajorLeagueDowntown.com. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Rays May Get New Waterfront Stadium". Portfolio.com. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Opponents say Rays, manatees don't mix". St Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ "Report: Rays looking into new stadium". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Rays unveil plans for new stadium". RaysBaseball.com. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Rays moving forward with stadium plans". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Rays Want To Move To Waterfront Field". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Rays say stadium would promote $1 billion in investment". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Rays abandon quest for state stadium subsidy". tampabay.com. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Crist supports Rays with stadium despite budget woes". tampabay.com. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "New stadium Q&A: Dry, but hot with view of the bay". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Rays park hearing draws a full house". St Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ "Arts community feels crowded by Rays plan". St Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ "Anti-stadium group plans to form political action committee". Creative Loafing Tampa. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ "Group lends positive voice to Rays plan". St Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ "Council Hears From Public On Rays' Stadium". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
External links
- Major League Downtown Official Website