Although the
team is just over a decade old, in 2007, the Tampa Bay Rays announced
plans for a new waterfront ballpark. Since their inception, the Rays have
played at Tropicana Field, perhaps one of the best domed stadiums
in Major League Baseball. Even though many fans prefer to watch
baseball being played outside, Tropicana Field keeps the summertime
heat and humidity out, keeping fans cool. Over the last couple of
years, the Rays have invested money in making their stadium one of
the best experience for their fans. However, because the team has
been one of the worst in baseball and that Tropicana Field lacks
some of the amenities of newer ballparks, the team has began
exploring options of constructing a new ballpark.
In
November 2007, the Rays announced plans to build a new ballpark in
downtown St. Petersburg, on the location of their spring training
home, Al Lang Field. At a cost of $450 million, the ballpark would
seat 34,000 fans and be complete at the earliest by 2012. If constructed, the ballpark
will be open to the elements, but will have a retractable roof that
will open or close in eight minutes. The retractable roof will be
one of the most unique in baseball as it will consist of a light
weatherproof fabric that will be pulled over the playing field by a
hoist tower in centerfield. It will have all the same modern and fan
friendly amenities as every other ballpark built. It will have air
conditioned concourses with views of the field and the smallest
upper deck in baseball.
In
May 2008 the Tampa Bay Rays announced their financing plan to
construct the ballpark. Owner of the Rays, Stuart Sternberg, would
contribute $150 million, $70 million or more would come from the
sale of Tropicana Field, $100 million from a one-cent extension from
Pinellas County tourist development tax that was used to construct
Tropicana Field, $75 million from the City of St. Petersburg and $55
million from parking revenues. The Rays would pay for any cost
overruns.
As of June 2008 the
future Rays Ballpark appears to be in jeopardy. On June 25, 2008
the Rays announced they were abandoning
their ambitious plans to build a $450 million stadium on the
downtown waterfront by 2012.
The stadium has been delayed indefinitely because St. Petersburg
and Pinellas County officials complained that the city and
county were being rushed to commit millions of public money for
the project. A new timeline will be developed and the Rays will
look at other locations for a stadium. Sites include Tropicana
Field, the former Toytown landfill, Derby Lane and Al Lang
Field.
RAYS BALLPARK FACTS AND FIGURES
LATEST NEWS
Tenant:
Tampa Bay Rays
Capacity:
35,000
Surface:
Grass
Cost:
$450 Million
Opening:
Undetermined
Dimensions:
Undetermined
Architect: HOK Sport
Location: Downtown St.
Petersburg, Current Al Lang Field site
Public Financing: Possible State Funding from sales tax
increase
Private Financing: Sale of
Tropicana Field, Rays Contribution
In
May 2008 the Tampa Bay Rays announced their financing plan to
construct the ballpark. Owner of the Rays, Stuart Sternberg, would
contribute $150 million, $70 million or more would come from the
sale of Tropicana Field, $100 million from a one-cent extension from
Pinellas County tourist development tax that was used to construct
Tropicana Field, $75 million from the City of St. Petersburg and $55
million from parking revenues. The Rays would pay for any cost
overruns.
