Rays propose new stadium

[John F]

There is also a video to see with the stadium:

Click here to view the St. Petersburg Ballpark video -- just renderings and computer animation. No annoying music (so far)

[DR3AMR]

Its pretty disappointing. I get the "sails", but why doesn't the rest of the ballpark look somewhat retro?

[John F]

Well, Dr34m, doesn't that clash? I thought the sails and the ballpark design fit together beautifully in it's own look.

Retro in the TB area would be the greatly overused Mediterranean/stucco design... I mean, there are neo-classic designs out there but in Florida, it's med revival that tends to represent the "classic" look.

To me, this ballpark design goes hand in hand with that waterfront location. (and mind you, I don't support the concept of a new ballpark when the Trop isn't even paid off) The "Sail" roof is only part of it, the bowl and the roof awning makes the park feel sleek -- like the hull of a ship.

Besides, with everyone using a retro look - does that mean you HAVE to go with it too? The bowl situation is much the same for all the latest ballparks and they start looking too much like each other.

[DR3AMR]

Originally Posted by John F

Well, Dr34m, doesn't that clash?

Yeah, it does to a certain extent. But, why does the park have to look like a flying saucer landed on the upper deck? Its like they too their concept to the extreme.

[John F]

Lets contrast here -- the New Yankee stadium and Soldier field both look like flying saucers landed on them...

I think this looks more like Wembly Stadium in London... I mean the design with the awnings are used regularly in Europe and Asia with various stadiums for soccer and what not. Yeah, this isn't Europe and this isn't soccer but what's the alternative? Completely open air with the sun beating down and even more to unravel in the roof/sail structure?

They've gotta sell the public on the fact you can watch baseball outdoors in the Florida summer without being entirely uncomfortable. Having the awning -- and not a cheap aluminum one that was/is used for spring training/Florida State League ballparks in Florida (old Jack Russell stadium, Al Lang Field itself, there are certainly other examples out there) -- is supposed to be part of beating the heat.

There's one other factor - I touch on it in part -- with the entire ballpark. They've been doing throwback/retro stadiums since Candem Yards opened. They're doing it so much it comes off cookie cutter in a ways (Coors Field, Citi Field, Candem Yards, the Phillies new ballpark, great american ballpark, ATT ballpark, new Busch Stadium, etc). Isn't it time they went back to a modern look? Something individual and distinctive?

[bedir than average]

I like the new look. When was the last time a baseball stadium opened and you thought "that's original?"

[John F]

^^ Candem Yards, 1993

Since then, everything has been trying to imitate each other. Most of the newest parks (St. Louis, Philly, Citi Field under construction in New York, even Pac Bell/ATT Park) have this retro cookie cutter design to imitate Jacobs Field, Candem yards, Coors Field, etc...

Retro has gone Cliche.

[John F]

I'll find teh article that goes with this soon enough but the new Rays stadium is the SECOND stadium proposed for St. Petersburg, Florida that would have had a canvas roof and would have been open air.

Behold the 1983 original concept for the MLB stadium in St. Petersburg:


(caption: Tropicana Field wasn’t always designed as a dome. This original 1983 model is what city and county leaders first thought the ballpark would look like, which is similar to what the Tampa Bay Rays are proposing now for Al Lang Field. Ultimately, city leaders abandoned the “tent” concept, saying they preferred a dome that could host other events, not just baseball. )

Well, guess again

By Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Published Monday, May 12, 2008 7:10 PM

Tropicana Field almost looked like this.

Outdoor seating. Tented roof. Fountains in center field.

It looks a lot like a new downtown waterfront stadium proposed by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Except the image at top, taken by St. Petersburg Times photographer Fraser Hale in early 1983, is of a model of the original Tropicana design.

A Times reporter unearthed the picture recently while researching the history of Tropicana Field.

In the distance is the old Bayfront Arena, to the right is Interstate 175.

A fabric roof stretches over a boomerang-shaped stadium, anchored to the upper deck on one end, and at the ground on the other.

The design never got past the planning stages, shelved after city leaders pressed for a multipurpose dome that could attract events other than baseball.

The Rays, who will reveal a preliminary financing plan for the $450-million waterfront ballpark at noon Thursday at Tropicana Field, say they had never seen this picture before.

"People were really impressed with it," recalled Cecil Engelbert, 81, former chairman of the Pinellas Sports Authority.

"It would have sure been attractive."

Times staff researcher Mary Mellstrom contributed to this report.

[DR3AMR]

Any political update John?

[JMUplayer]

How many do they expect it to seat?

[John F]

Originally Posted by DR3AMR

Any political update John?

city council vote upcoming, DR34m. I'm seeign more anti stadium sentiment than pro from people but then again - that's not poll numbers.

As for seating - somewhere over 30 K JMU, but certainly less than Tropicana Field currently seats.

[John F]

By the way, how many here have read Stadium for Rent by Bob Andelman? he put the entire book online at Stadium For Rent: Tampa Bay's Quest for Baseball and it gives insight on why the Dome was built in St. Pete in the first place and other tales of the quest for MLB iin Tampa Bay.

[DR3AMR]

Cool...I'll get around to reading that someday.

Is the Rays' winning ways helping sway public opinion? I fear that if McCain picks Crist as his running mate the stadium idea will be completely ditched.

[John F]

No, not swaying anything DR34M. The attendance is lackadistical at best. there is an article by Gary Shelton today -- opinion column on the cover fo the St. Pete Times - that talks about lack of attendance despite the Rays having the best record in baseball. Last night's crowd was 10,000+.

Let me put that in context for you and everyone else. The Tampa Bay Lightning had several years of horrendous records back-to-back-to-back. Even then, they could draw what would be the equivalent to 40-60 percent of capacity (capacity for St. Pete Times Forum is considered 19,500, so crowds of 8,000-12,000). The Rays draw crowds like that to the 41,000+ seat Tropicana Field and there is legit cause for concern.

St. Petersburg seems anti-stadium. Personally I am growing against the stadium not because fo the team but because fo the location, the logistics, the economy... St. Petersburg is too removed from the center of the area (though it has a great nightlife now) to draw fans from all over

[DR3AMR]

I would agree with that. Now that they have a good team they should be getting good crowds. Location, location, location. The Marlins are proving it as well.

It should be built on the vacant land next to Raymond James.