Ballpark
The new waterfront ballpark will be the defining image for downtown St. Petersburg and for the Rays. Located on Al Lang Field, a site steeped in baseball history, the new ballpark will link cultural and outdoor attractions, activating and drawing additional visitors to the waterfront district.
Scheduled to open for the 2012 season, the new ballpark will be a world-class sports venue that combines the latest in technology & amenities with the intimate feel of spring training. With only 34,000 seats and one of the smallest upper decks in the major leagues, the ballpark will provide a fan-friendly baseball experience against a dynamic urban backdrop.
BALLPARK STATS
- "Mast and Arch" retractable roof design will provide a shelter from sun & rain and capture bay breezes while retaining the character of an open air ballpark & preserving sweeping views of the skyline and waterfront.
- Air conditioned concourses and cool zones will be provided to maximize comfort for all fans.
- The state-of-the-art roof can deploy in 6-8 minutes.
- The ballpark's intimate design will recreate the feeling of Spring Training year round. Nearly two-thirds of all seats will be located in the lower portion of the seating bowl.
- The ballpark will offer a variety of new seating options at reasonable price points for the general public, including families. Only a very small percentage of seats will be on a Club Level or in Luxury Suites.
- Family-friendly amenities will be found throughout the ballpark, continuing the Rays commitment to providing fun and affordable family entertainment.
- 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.
- 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.
- Public art, creative water features and innovative landscaping will ring the ballpark, creating distinctive amenities for all to enjoy.
- New shops and restaurants will further activate 1st Street.
- The waterfront esplanade along Bayshore Drive will be transformed into a game-day amenity with activities, food vendors and entertainment.
- The ballpark will be fully accessible and serve the needs of all patrons. The Rays will be hiring an accessibility consultant to help plan and design for the best fan experience possible for guests with disabilities.
- A detailed transportation and parking study has concluded that the Al Lang site in downtown St. Petersburg is well suited for the Rays waterfront ballpark. Disruptions to the traffic and parking infrastructure would be minimal.
- Nearly 14,000 parking spaces that are likely to be available for the majority of ballpark events have been identified, a figure which does not include the nearly 7,000 on-street parking spaces that will remain available for downtown businesses, institutions and residents.
- The study concludes that the parking and transportation demands of a new waterfront ballpark can be successfully accommodated without creating any adverse impacts to residents and visitors to the downtown area’s numerous other attractions, including museums, Baywalk, the Pier, and other retail and dining establishments.
- By moving from Tropicana Field to the new ballpark, the Rays are reducing their carbon footprint by almost 70%. Additionally, the Rays’ commitment to sustainable design and LEED certification will make the new ballpark one of the most environmentally-friendly stadiums in North America.
- 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 be funded through a private contribution from the Rays and a portion of the value created from redeveloping the Tropicana Field site. It is important to note that no new taxes will be levied and no funds that could otherwise be used to support city or county services will be used to fund the ballpark.