View Full Version : Tampa Bay Rays looks to build a new ball park
GIO17
22 Nov 2007, 03:54 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AlYQWe1tZ0CLIXLhTJjsH4gq0bYF?slug=txraysstadium&prov=st
They are looking to tear down or redevelop Tropicana Field after building the new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays. Could this be the possibillity to bring pro soccer back to the Tampa/St. Pete area?
Orlando Rays
22 Nov 2007, 09:24 AM
We're already talking about this in the Central Florida thread.
phillypride
22 Nov 2007, 11:50 AM
Do you think MLS would go with two Florida teams in Miami and Tampa given the increased interest from elsewhere? Does Tampa need to hope that Miami doesn't get things together?
CACuzcatlan
23 Nov 2007, 09:23 PM
Do you think MLS would go with two Florida teams in Miami and Tampa given the increased interest from elsewhere? Does Tampa need to hope that Miami doesn't get things together?
Personally, I see Tampa as a stronger market. Miami doesn't even support a baseball team. With all the Hispanics, specifically from the Caribbean, you'd think they could get better attendance. The bottom line always comes down to stadium and owners.
kenntomasch
23 Nov 2007, 09:30 PM
Personally, I see Tampa as a stronger market. Miami doesn't even support a baseball team.
To be honest, neither does Tampa Bay. Part of that is because they play on the wrong side of the Bay.
Are we saying that if the Rays build a new park, that MLS should look to play in it, too? Because the baseball/soccer thing just doesn't work.
Or are we saying that if the Rays move out of Tropicana Field, that the dome might be a decent home for an MLS team? Because I don't agree with that. The Trop is a big ol' concrete disaster on the wrong side of the Bay.
That said, if someone got their act together and ponied up for a team and had a viable stadium solution (even RJS, if Glazer did now what he didn't want to do in 2001) in Tampa, I'm sure they'd be considered despite the general feeling that Florida is a "bad market" for sports.
DavidP
23 Nov 2007, 11:10 PM
To be honest, neither does Tampa Bay. Part of that is because they play on the wrong side of the Bay.
Are we saying that if the Rays build a new park, that MLS should look to play in it, too? Because the baseball/soccer thing just doesn't work.
Or are we saying that if the Rays move out of Tropicana Field, that the dome might be a decent home for an MLS team? Because I don't agree with that. The Trop is a big ol' concrete disaster on the wrong side of the Bay.
That said, if someone got their act together and ponied up for a team and had a viable stadium solution (even RJS, if Glazer did now what he didn't want to do in 2001) in Tampa, I'm sure they'd be considered despite the general feeling that Florida is a "bad market" for sports.
Was not St. Pete told by everybody and their brother not to build the Suncoast Dome, now known as Tropicana Field? I wonder why Tampa has never built a MLB sized park? You'd think with all of the baseball in that area, they would have done it instead of St. Pete.
kenntomasch
24 Nov 2007, 12:00 AM
Major League Baseball told them that they wouldn't be guaranteed a team would move there if they built it, that they would build at their own risk.
And Tampa had plans for a ballpark next to (what was then) Tampa Stadium, the Tampa Coliseum it was going to be called.
But no one finds it easy to just get a ballpark built. You can't just snap your fingers and get it done.
wufc
24 Nov 2007, 04:56 AM
Personally, I see Tampa as a stronger market. Miami doesn't even support a baseball team.
I doubt any city would support a baseball team as badly run as the Marlins.
Orlando Rays
24 Nov 2007, 07:55 AM
I doubt any city would support a baseball team as badly run as the Marlins.
San Antonio would. :rolleyes:
I still think they should strip Loria of his ownership, "for the good of baseball".
alexp92
24 Nov 2007, 01:45 PM
what does this have to do with mls? this is not going to result in a soccer stadium, we need to look for tampa
kenntomasch
24 Nov 2007, 01:59 PM
what does this have to do with mls?
You gotta understand...whenever anything happens in the world, someone starts an "Impact on MLS?" thread about it.
placount
24 Nov 2007, 03:23 PM
no its just the idea of renovating tropicana to be an mls stadium... inside a mall.
alexp92
24 Nov 2007, 03:47 PM
this could have been posted in the central florida thread, but ill let it go, i dont want to sound like a strict mod
WhiteStar Warriors
24 Nov 2007, 06:17 PM
I don't see why Tropicana can't be converted into a soccer stadium, wasn't Tropicana called the "Thunderdome" and hockey and arena football was played there
Orlando Rays
24 Nov 2007, 07:54 PM
I don't see why Tropicana can't be converted into a soccer stadium, wasn't Tropicana called the "Thunderdome" and hockey and arena football was played there
I have no problem with an indoor stadium, especially here in Florida, but they'd need to gut the Trop in order to do it. I'm sorry, but I hate the interior of that edifice.
kenntomasch
24 Nov 2007, 07:55 PM
I don't see why Tropicana can't be converted into a soccer stadium,
Because it's a big-ass concrete POS. That's why.
It's not made of LEGOs. It would be a bit more complicated and expensive than you seem to think to convert it into anything. Not to mention that it would still be on the wrong side of the Bay.
The thing should be converted into a reef.
WhiteStar Warriors
26 Nov 2007, 04:24 PM
Because it's a big-ass concrete POS. That's why.
It's not made of LEGOs. It would be a bit more complicated and expensive than you seem to think to convert it into anything. Not to mention that it would still be on the wrong side of the Bay.
The thing should be converted into a reef.
So I guess according to you all domes are a big-ass concrete POS
kenntomasch
26 Nov 2007, 04:49 PM
So I guess according to you all domes are a big-ass concrete POS
No, not necessarily.
But the one in St. Pete sure as hell is. Ask around.
Orlando Rays
27 Nov 2007, 07:09 AM
I can tell you from copious personal experience... the Trop is a huge POS.
It's possible to make a dome look good. Just ask Detroit. Ford Field is essentially a souped-up warehouse, but it's a bad-ass souped-up warehouse.
Actually, looking at the article... it literally IS a warehouse.
WhiteStar Warriors
01 Dec 2007, 12:49 PM
I wrote a letter to the governor regarding renovating the Trop into a soccer stadium here's the response:
Thank you for writing to Governor Charlie Crist regarding the possible uses for Tropicana Field. The Governor appreciates learning of your views and asked that I respond to you on his behalf.
As you mentioned, interest in sports in our state is strong and growing. According to the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, Florida’s sports industry has doubled since 1999, representing $32 billion in economic impact and employing more than 400,000 Floridians. Regarding your suggestion to utilize Tropicana Field as a soccer complex, please also share your views with your local officials. The site is owned by Pinellas County, who in turn lease it to the Devil Rays.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to share your opinion with Governor Crist. He welcomes input on these important issues from the citizens for whom he serves.
Tracey D. Fannon
Budget Chief
Director's Office
Governor's Office of Policy and Budget
(850)922-5150