Why do the Rays need a new ballpark? Why build it at Al Lang Field?
Tropicana Field becomes more expensive to maintain and operate each year, and the stadium does not showcase what is truly great about Tampa Bay, fresh air and water views. There is no site better suited to showcase the beauty of the region and the City of St Petersburg than Al Lang Field.
More importantly, this is not just about a new ballpark. The redevelopment of Tropicana Field will create thousands of jobs, tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue, and will change the way people view and experience downtown St Petersburg.
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Does the ballpark have a roof? How does it work?
The ballpark will have a retractable roof that will shield the playing field and fans from the elements. The roof will be comprised of a light weatherproof fabric that will be pulled along cables that are suspended over the playing field and seats. It will take approximately 6-8 minutes to open or close. Even when the roof is deployed, the feel of an open-air ballpark will be maintained
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How hot will it be? Will there be conditioned spaces? Who will have access to them?
There is no denying that Florida in the summer is hot, and we are taking steps to ensure that fan comfort is maximized, including creating a number of conditioned spaces along the concourses that will be available to all ticketed patrons. Most games during the summer months will be played at night. We can deploy the roof during the day to keep sun from heating up the ballpark, and retract the roof at night before game time. Breezes from the bay will also have a cooling effect. All in all, we believe that we will be able to provide a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere to watch a ballgame even on the hottest of mid-summer days.
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Who will pay for the new ballpark?
The financing details are still under discussion, but the project will be a huge financial net positive for the City and County. The ballpark will funded through a private contribution from the Rays and a portion of the value created from redeveloping the Tropicana Field site. The project will generate approximately $150 million in new funds for Pinellas County schools over the next 30 years and tens of millions of dollars more in other new tax revenue. It is important to note that no new taxes will be levied and no funds that could otherwise be used to fund city or county services will be used to fund the ballpark.
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How does this new ballpark help make the Rays a better ball club?
A new ballpark, on its own, will not make us a better ball club. However, it will give us the financial resources that will enable us to better compete. We believe the best way to sustain crowds over the long term is by creating excitement on the field and a great game day experience for our fans. A new ballpark will help us do both.
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What types of approvals are needed? What will the public process be?
We will be conducting extensive public outreach to present plans and gain important feedback on various aspects of this exciting project. Please check back for more details on the outreach schedule and land use review process for the new ballpark and the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site. Please note that a public referendum is needed to authorize the construction of the new ballpark on the site of Al Lang Field. We anticipate that this referendum will be held in November 2008.
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What is the overall timeline?
Prior to the referendum, we will meet with numerous community stakeholders and solicit feedback on many aspects of the project, including open space design and programming, and traffic management. Following referendum approval, construction on both sites is anticipated to begin in mid-2009, with the new ballpark ready by Opening Day 2012. Retail, commercial, and housing development on the Tropicana Field site is scheduled to open in 2011 and continue through approximately 2013.
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Why are there only 34,000 seats? How are they distributed?
We are looking to create the most intimate ballpark in Major League Baseball. We want every fan to feel as close to the game as possible. A seating capacity of only 34,000 will help us achieve this goal. Almost two-thirds of seats will be located off the main concourse in the lower bowl. There will be approximately 50 suites and 2,500 club seats. The upper deck will be one on the smallest in the major leagues. There won’t be a bad seat in the house.
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Where will people park?
A detailed transportation and parking management study has concluded that the Al Lang site is well-suited for a major league ballpark. Nearly 14,000 available parking spaces have been identified for most games, a figure which does not include the nearly 7,000 on-street parking spaces that will remain available for downtown businesses, institutions and residents. This is more than enough to accommodate a sellout crowd, which would need approximately 12,000 spaces, and more parking than is currently available at Tropicana Field. Additional on-site parking will be constructed to the south of the ballpark adjacent the new team office building. Overflow parking spaces will be available only blocks away as part of the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site. Click to view Transportation and Parking Study
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What will happen to the Tropicana Field site?
The entire site will be redeveloped as a major retail, entertainment, and housing development. After the 2011 season, Tropicana Field will be demolished. The project will essentially create an entirely new community, with new shops and restaurants, residential buildings above street level retail, entertainment venues, a new hotel, and new parks and open spaces. We expect this exciting mix of uses and unique retailers to attract people from all over the region to St. Petersburg.
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