Rays Ballpark

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 This article or section is about a planned or proposed stadium.
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Rays Ballpark
(Current project title)
Location 1st Ave. SE and 1st St. S
St. Petersburg, Florida
Broke ground May 2009 (expected)
Opened April 2012 (expected)
Owner Unknown
Operator Unknown
Surface Natural grass
Construction cost $450 million (estimate)
Architect HOK Sport
Tenants Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) (starting in 2012)
Capacity 34,000 (expected)

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, and are subject to voter approval, the Rays hope to complete the park in time for the 2012 season.

Contents

[edit] Design

"Mast and Arch" retractable roof design that will provide a shelter from the elements and capture bay breezes while retaining the character of an open air ballpark & preserving sweeping views of the skyline and waterfront. The state-of-the-art roof will deploy in 6-8 minutes. In addition, there will be a large number of eating and drinking options in the new ballpark, including a two-story bar with a large outdoor deck down the right field line overlooking the field and the bay. Furthermore, new public open spaces surrounding the ballpark will link waterfront destinations and provide a forum for civic, cultural, community and entertainment gatherings and events throughout the year. The waterfront esplanade along Bayshore Drive will be transformed into a game-day amenity with activities, food vendors and entertainment.

[edit] Proposal

The Tampa Bay Rays' plan is to build a 34,000 seat [1] open-air facility costing $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 a 0.6 acre parcel of land to be created by dredging and filling the Bay adjacent to the site.[3]. The ballpark would face the opposite direction than Al Lang Field so home runs could be hit into the water, similar to 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 with 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 may be available for the majority of ballpark events have been identified, a figure that does not include roughly 7,000 on-street parking spaces. Some 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]

[edit] 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 and the new property taxes generated from that redevelopment, 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 failed several times to get the sales tax rebate in their efforts to build the New Marlins Stadium, and the state government anticipated heavy shortfalls in fiscal year 2009. 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]

Rays ownership revealed the financing plan on 2008-05-16. In addition to the $150 million Stuart Sternberg will provide, at least $70 million (or more, currently uncertain until a development deal is finalized) will come from the sale of Tropicana Field. $100 million will come from an extension of the one cent on the Pinellas County tourist development tax that was approved for Tropicana Field, which will be extended 25 to 30 years. $75 million will be redirected from the money the city of St. Petersburg currently pays on the debt owed for construction of Tropicana Field, with those payments extended 25 to 30 years; the debt on Tropicana Field will be assumed by the redevelopers, taking that burden off the city. The remaining $55 million will be from parking fee revenues, and guaranteed by Sternberg. Sternberg will pay any cost overruns.[12]

[edit] Work on approval

The first official public hearing on the park was held on February 22, 2008, before the St. Petersburg City Council.[13][14] By that time, groups opposing[15] and supporting[16][17] the new stadium had already formed.

Proposals for the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site were submitted to the City of St. Petersburg on March 18.[18] Negotiations with Hines Construction and Archstone-Madison were begun for the redevelopment of Tropicana Field on May 1.[19]

The first major hurdle for approval took place on June 5, when the St. Petersburg City Council voted 7-1 in favor of directing the City Attorney to draw up language for an approval referendum.[20] Such a referendum must be approved by August to make the November 4, 2008, ballot.[21]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Play Ball: Facts about the new ballpark. MajorLeagueDowntown.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  2. ^ Tampa Bay Rays May Get New Waterfront Stadium. Portfolio.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  3. ^ Opponents say Rays, manatees don't mix. St Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  4. ^ Report: Rays looking into new stadium. MLB.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  5. ^ Rays unveil plans for new stadium. RaysBaseball.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  6. ^ Rays moving forward with stadium plans. MLB.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  7. ^ Rays Want To Move To Waterfront Field. Tampa Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  8. ^ Rays say stadium would promote $1 billion in investment. ESPN. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  9. ^ Rays abandon quest for state stadium subsidy. tampabay.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  10. ^ Crist supports Rays with stadium despite budget woes. tampabay.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  11. ^ New stadium Q&A: Dry, but hot with view of the bay. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  12. ^ Aaron Sharockman (2008-05-16). Rays release financing details for new stadium. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  13. ^ Rays park hearing draws a full house. St Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  14. ^ Arts community feels crowded by Rays plan. St Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  15. ^ Anti-stadium group plans to form political action committee. Creative Loafing Tampa. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  16. ^ Group lends positive voice to Rays plan. St Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  17. ^ Council Hears From Public On Rays' Stadium. Tampa Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  18. ^ Tropicana Field RFP Responses at the City of St. Petersburg official website
  19. ^ Council follows mayor's lead; Negotiations to begin with two Tropicana developers
  20. ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2008/06/02/daily41.html
  21. ^ What are your predictions?

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 27°46′7.08″N, 82°37′59.25″W

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