|
 Rays Ballpark
Tampa, FL
Although the
team is only 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
ever 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.
Possible financing from the ballpark
would come from the sale of Tropicana Field to a developer, $150
million from the Rays and state money from an increase in sales tax
from items sold in the ballpark; that would require legislative
approval. The Rays are expected to lobby City Council to approve
adding to the November 2008 ballot a referendum to authorize the
construction. If approved by voters, construction of the ballpark
could begin in mid 2009.
|
