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Old May 9th, 2007, 10:36 AM   3 links from elsewhere to this Post. Click to view. #1 (permalink)
John F
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Default Stadium Hubbub

Seeing Juan Salas' 50 game suspension wasn't good enough to warrant any discussion...

There was a piece in the New York Times yesterday about the upcoming Rays series in Orlando. Within the story, Stu Sternberg -- the Rays managing partner -- is quoted as saying Baseball does not feel right indoors,” and that Tropicana Field “We recognize it has a shelf life of five years.”

This has stirred up a hornets nest of discussion as well as Sternberg having to further explain his comments. He's not lobbying for a new stadium, he's not asking for a new stadium, he's not demanding a new stadium... He and his investment partners have put 20 million dollars into Tropicana Field the last two seasons and those monies weren't just a five year investment when a much larger piece of change would be required if the team were planning to lobby for a new park.

To describe the situation as Rays fans know it -- Tropicana Field won't be replaced any time soon, especially with how crappy the ballclub has been since it's inception. It doesn't warrant that kind of investment -- no matter how much harping out-of-towners say about the park (or even locals who don't attend games, citing the stadium as an excuse). The team is also locked in to a 30 year lease with hefty fines for breaking it... That alone locks the team in to St. Petersburg.

That being said, a dialog about a new stadium isn't a horrid thing -- it's the absolution that a new stadium is needed and now because of blah, blah, blah.
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Old May 9th, 2007, 12:59 PM   #2 (permalink)
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John, do you know if the Rays have ever looked into turning the Trop into a Chase/BankOne style convertible? My recollection from passing by Tropicana is that the roof does have a seam of sorts. Is there any way structually that the roof could be removed as well as portions of the exterior?
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Old May 9th, 2007, 02:05 PM   #3 (permalink)
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As far as I know that's possible but I highly doubt the team would want it. The design of Tropicana Field is from the 1970's. Construction began in the 1980's and by the grand opening -- the design was obsolete. I think there would be too many complications -- structurally and scheduling wise -- to try to convert the stadium in any way, shape or form to open air/retractable roof. Plus the costs of such a conversion my be on par with the price of a new stadium...
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Old May 9th, 2007, 11:12 PM   #4 (permalink)
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I found it funny that he said baseball shouldn't be played indoors.

Would love to see what he thought after watching a few in south Florida in August. And I'm not talking about being in a luxury suite in the A/C.

You might be able to watch some games in April, but the rest of the year the games will either be too hot or rained out with lightning all around.
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Old May 10th, 2007, 09:13 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Hawk, I completely agree with that... I've had a friend work at Bright House Networks Field (in the box office) the last 2 years and changed his opinion on baseball indoors after experiencing things. Unless it rains before game time -- things are horrid to sit through (weather wise). Day games are impossible and oppressive.

Some of the discussion on a development message board (I linked to that site and the thread in question) want a retractable roof ballpark but some of the suggested sites are non starters for a Major League baseball stadium. Al Lang Field's footprint is too small for a big league ballpark (let alone a retractable roof park) and the Gateway district (the other popular suggestion) is a horrid location for a baseball stadium simply because there is nothing there. Office Parks do not cater to pre and post game entertainment.
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