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New stadium Q&A: Dry, but hot with view of the bay
By MARC TOPKIN and AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writers
Published November 10, 2007
What would the proposed stadium be like? The biggest difference is that baseball would be played outdoors. The planned waterfront stadium would be open-air but have a sail-like covering in the event of rain, so fans would be dry but at times hot. The design is likely to be traditional, like with an urban retro feel. Would there be any cool waterfront features like in San Francisco? By shifting the orientation of the field, home runs to rightfield could land in the water. What's Al Lang being used for now? The Rays are using the historic site for spring training games. But after next year, the team is moving its spring operations to Charlotte County. The city says it has no plans to try to lure another team for spring training. Where would people park? There would little if any on-site parking for fans. Fans probably would be asked to park at nearby city parking garages. The city could also shuttle fans to the game. Wouldn't it be a tight fit for a big-league stadium? Yes. The city owns a little over 10 acres of waterfront property. Fenway Park in Boston was built on 10 acres, and AT&T Park in San Francisco was constructed on 13 acres. Why not Tampa? The Rays' lease with the city of St. Petersburg makes it difficult, if not impossible for the team to leave St. Petersburg before 2027. The team, according to the lease, cannot move anywhere without the city's permission. The Marlins, in Miami, have said they would consider leaving the state if a new baseball stadium isn't built for them. Could the Rays leave if this falls through? Anything is possible, but the city's lease with the team would make it very difficult for the Rays to leave St. Petersburg for another 20 years. What's wrong with Tropicana Field? Despite significant upgrades, it is still a dome, it still has catwalks that interfere with play, and it still has a drab, warehouse feel. What would happen to the Trop site? The land would be sold, and the stadium knocked down, and a mixed use retail/entertainment/residential development would be built. That would create jobs and provide affordable housing. Would voters have to approve this? Yes. The city could lease the Al Lang site to the Rays for less than five years and not need a referendum. But in that case, the city would still be responsible for the property taxes on the site. The city likely would sell the land to the county, as it did with Tropicana Field. The county would not have to pay property taxes. But the sale would need voter approval as would a long-term lease.
[Last modified November 10, 2007, 01:00:11]
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by Greg
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12/11/07 09:09 PM
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Tell Rays pay the 1,000,000 you owe st pete, we will let you out of contract. develop propery put the 400,000,000 in the bank draw int provide more wtr frt activities with funds. No tax payer $ for this.
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by Gail
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11/29/07 12:54 PM
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spoiled america... in these times in Fla. we shoudnt waste money on a new stadium when we have one working fine...get a grip...dont waste our money...play ball...
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by virgil
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11/28/07 09:33 AM
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move the team to tampa. St. pete sucks.to many slow driving old ppl.
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by harriet
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11/22/07 01:51 PM
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the people who want a new stadium, the people that go to, see the games should pay for it.
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by MOVE TO TAMPA
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11/20/07 10:40 AM
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Move the team to Tampa the attendance would go up which would equal more money for the team which would mean batter players. get the Rays out of ST PETE and put them in TAMPA
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by jason
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11/16/07 10:16 AM
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what a bad idea--it is just too hot and humid here to have an outdoor park. i think they should consider how much of a decline this may cause to attendance. the trop may not be the answer, but neither is no air conditioning.
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by TD
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11/13/07 10:35 PM
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Great Idea turning Al Lang into a park!? It's not like we already have Vinoy & North Shore parks along the water. It's not like the Trop space wouldn't bring in much more property tax revenue with the stadium gone. Oh yea,it would! Build New Stadium!
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by mike
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11/12/07 07:32 PM
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GREAT IDEA! IF IT WAS BUILT IN TAMPA ALONG CHANNELSIDE.
WITH A RETRACTABLE ROOF! NOT ! THAT WOULD MAKE TO MUCH SENCE! ALSO NOT IN FAVOR OF TAX PAYERS PAYING FOR A PRIVATELY OWNED TEAM!!!!!
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by Jake
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11/12/07 06:58 PM
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in a time like this the thought even makes me cringe.How about putting the money to good use and boost the economy around here because it sucks.the thought of the city paying more taxes is unreal. People are being laid off and this is there answer!!!
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by Dan
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11/12/07 06:12 PM
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I think it's a ridiculous idea to use prime, waterfront property with absolutely no nearby parking for a major league ballpark. I think the site has much better uses. If the Trop is so bad, why not tear it down and re-build at the same site?
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by mikey
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11/12/07 05:19 PM
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Locked them up till 2027? Let them out of the deal. St. Pete will be better off. Parkking would be the LEAST of our problems.
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by Mark Jones
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11/12/07 05:14 PM
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This is a no-brainer! Open air stadium with rain protective roof, near the water, taking in the marvelous city surroundings; go for it.
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by KG
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11/12/07 05:10 PM
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Unbelievable!! How many millions spent on that Dome and they want to tear it down? And an outside venue? This is Florida folks, get real. And the parking will be ridiculous. Stop wasting taxpayers money on these stupid ideas!!!!
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by Paul
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11/12/07 05:09 PM
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Well being a baseball team and all, I guess they had to prove they have balls by asking for this absolutely horrendous waste of money to occur. $450 million? are you guys nuts?? not with my hard earned tax dollars. Vote early, vote often, vote NO!
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by Brent
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11/12/07 04:57 PM
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Worst. Idea. Ever. The team is a money drain and they want a new stadium? With no parking?! Move the team to a real city (Tampa or otherwise) and maybe they won't continue to squander in relative anonymity. St. Pete is too small to support a team.
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by Rob
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11/10/07 08:56 PM
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I go to about 10-15 games a year and the thought of sitting outside at a game in summer in St Pete is not very appealing. Say what you will about the Trop it is a comfortable place to watch a game. Sometimes a air conditioned dome is not a bad thing.
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by jason
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11/10/07 03:19 PM
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Someone really has a pair. They're brass, too. A waterfront stadium won't improve the team's playing. Could a little open/green space be left along the water for citizens to enjoy?
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by Aaron
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11/10/07 12:00 PM
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Please folks lets get off or high horse and make this happen. Enough of he bandwagon fan talk about putting a winning team on the field first. St.Pete is heading in the right direction as far as making a name for itself. lets not return to the past.
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by FRANK
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11/10/07 11:05 AM
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THE RAYS SHOULD GO WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE.
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by John
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11/10/07 11:04 AM
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Waht a snow job by the Rays and anyone else with anything to gain. The losers would be the tax payers and the city...St.Pete is not San Fran or Boston, don't sell your soul and downtown Al Lang (nice) for another pipe dream. Do the right thing!
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by Tom
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11/10/07 10:53 AM
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Great idea! This would be the best thing to happen to the Rays and baseball on the gulf coast.
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by Marc
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11/10/07 10:50 AM
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This sucks! parking is going to be a NIGHTMARE...turn the waterfront property into a park or something we can all enjoy!
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by larry
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11/10/07 10:24 AM
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Are the people considering this out of their collective minds.No parking, too hot, less attendance than now!!!!!!!
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by Alex
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11/10/07 10:23 AM
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This is probably the best news I have heard for the Devil Rays and St Petersburg in a long time!!! The team is ready to break through in the AL East and this would be a step in the the right direction for the city and the team. Now we need pitching!
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by David
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11/10/07 10:22 AM
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Great come to the tax payers when crime is high, real estate is tanking, and try to get us to pay for a new stadium for a bunch of millionaires to play a kids game.
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by Phil
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11/10/07 10:09 AM
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Seems like a colossal waste of money...and how is this environment-friendly? How could a mistake like the Trop have been built in the first place?
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by Eric
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11/10/07 09:47 AM
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Fine with me as long as NO tax dollars are wasted on this.
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by Frank
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11/10/07 09:46 AM
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If you think the attendance is low now, just wait til people are sitting outside in the 95 degree temps. If they want to increase attendance the answer is simple, spend the money on players who can win!
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by Marcy
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11/10/07 09:31 AM
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The Dome has uses as a venue for concerts and large meetings. Why trash the facility. As for moving the team to Tampa. No way. Tampa already has football and hockey. Having the new proposed stadium on the bay is a fabulous idea. I hope it flies
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by John
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11/10/07 08:31 AM
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And one more thing... open air is ridiculous. Stu needs to rethink that rainout maker and attendence killer. Since it's a no-win situation until the lease with St Pete expires in 2027, just stay at the Trop. Stu knows that; he's just posturing.
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by pete
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11/10/07 06:56 AM
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What a stupid idea,spending all that money on a stadium.St.pete/Tampa , it doesn't matter if they don't win ! Pitching is what they need for a winning team.
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by Paul
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11/10/07 06:52 AM
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Are They Nuts Let the Rays Leave not one penny of tax money should ever be spent on any sports team !!!
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by Pat
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11/10/07 06:31 AM
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I'm all in favor of baseball but not on that site. Already our waterfront downtown is being crammed with uses tht make enjoyment of that area difficult. There is not enough parking for the current uses. Bad idea!
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by RE
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11/10/07 06:06 AM
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Why not use the land as a memorial to all the old historical buildings green benches, and other things of historical interest this fair city has destroyed in the name of progress and let's make more money. But wait...there wouldn't be enough room!!
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by NOT IN TAMPA
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11/10/07 03:55 AM
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stop asking about tampa, people! THE RAYS DON'T PLAY IN TAMPA AND NEVER WILL!!!
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