Rays proposed stadium 3-d video

I've been waiting patiently to share this with you all. And finally, it's here.

The city of St. Petersburg has a new, 45 second, 3-d video model showing the Tampa Bay Rays proposed waterfront stadium in its proposed downtown surroundings. Check it out. My hunch is that this video will support the opinions of both people for and against the waterfront stadium.

Big thank you to the city and specifically Julie Weston for helping us get copy of this video.

Comments

[Bobby Fenton]

In response to "Not looking good for the Rays on other blogs", who posted that Joe Henderson's column on the pleasantness of a recent outdoor evening at Al Lang was getting "lambasted". That couldn't be further from the truth. I just went over there and read the comments, and most of them are in fact lauding Henderson's column and ripping the people who complain about the heat and their "A/C or bust" attitude. There was also a much heavier slant regarding putting the stadium in Tampa on that comment board (I happen to agree, but that's not what's on the table, at least currently).

I also found it kind of surprising that there was such a discrepancy between the commenters on the two papers' sites. I know one paper is St. Pete based and one is Tampa based, but I didn't think the readerships necessarily were. I figured people in the area read both. In fact, I live in Tampa and prefer the Times. I never thought it was a St. Pete/Tampa thing.

[To Bobby Fenton]

Bobby,

So let's make it even harder to access for the Tampons, by putting it further downtown. Great idea?

I still think if attendance is the issue, the current suggested location is ridiculous. Silverman doesn't "get-it" that this is a car-based market. We have no alternatives. PSTA? LOL!!

A more central location, please.

[Edward]

Very deceiving. Imagine what this looks like from ground level (where, last I checked, most of us live). Imagine this thing from, say, the grass to the immediate north of the PAC. YIKES.

[Edward]

I love the idea of an open air venue. Baseball should be played outdoors (heat and sun do not scare me, I choose to live here and I *love* this place). But not at this location. Not with the lightning rod holding up the sail. Not without parking. Not with destroying the vista at the marina. This is SO ridiculous. I'm happy to fork over my taxpayer share of whatever infrastructure is needed to support a better place for the Rays to play. But NOT AT THIS LOCATION. This is a *BAD* idea.

[Bobby Fenton]

Listen, I completely understand the location issue. I am one of those people who chooses to acknowledge it instead of simply ripping Tampa people for not driving. I live in South Tampa and go quite often, but it is a pain in the @ss and I'd go even more if it were in Tampa.

My only point is that the current offer has nothing to do with Tampa. It still could at one point. But as of now, I worry that this may be the area's best shot at a stadium anywhere, and I like the location itself, even if it is the same drive. As far as being even further away, we're only talking about another few minutes, which I'll gladly trade to not have a beautful park with scenery.

But I don't disagree with you, poster two spots above me, I believe a more central location is the best scenario too.

[To Bobby]

Bobby,

Whether or not you agree, consider the mindset of most lazy, a/c dependent Tampa Bay residents. Most haven't even prepared for a hurricane yet, much less a trip to downtown St. Pete.

If I lived in Tampa (used to), the idea of driving to I-175, exiting the interstate, turning left and parking for free at the Trop, is a lot easier "on the mind" than, driving to downtown St. Pete, circling the downtown "one way grid" while guys in orange vests yell at us to park here for 10 bucks, and then walking 5-10 blocks, regardless of the weather, only to repeat the process, with 5-8k other cars after the game, remembering where you parked after a few beers and where the on ramp was. Average Joe that doesn't read these blogs agree, I assure you. Ask them. I have.

[get-smart]

10:05 Post:

Silverman does get it. This whole exercise is about pumping the team value and then dumping it on a new buyer. If they can get a separate contract on the parking they will probable keep that contract. That's free money.

When this deal falls through, how long do you think Stu will stay with the team? Who knows, he may have a buyer in waiting right now.

The Yankees right now are shaking down NYC for an additional $350M to complete the project. I do have a word for all of these guys.

So the bottom line can be the Rays have a new new owner. Stu has the concession on the stadium parking. The developers have no interest in the Trop site.

Good Job City Council!

Cheers!

[rick]

Whether it looks nice or not isn't the question :the question is the cost 450 million est.and it always rises up not down.Whos going to pay for it? And also it will be needed to be replaced like all stadiums in 30-40 years.And no matter what they tell us the parking is a joke ,only the few well connected will be getting parking.The parking is a shell game and only wishful thinking.No one likes to park else where to be shuttled to a stadium.

[Sally]

My 8 year old daughter told me earlier it looked like an easy-bake oven. heh

She votes for the Trop.

[Aaron]

Last Fri was a hot day. I remember being outside running around and sweating my A-- off. well that night me and some family members decided to go to fresscos on the water during first fri. We arrived at 8:00 p.m. and I must say for a person that sweats alot, the night was perfect. The breeze coming from the water was perfect i didnt sweat one bit. To make a long story short. If the Rays was to play at 7:00 p.m. in the new downtown stadium, the myth of it being to hot is just that, a myth. The winds coming off the bay will cool you down. I know people in Atlanta, Texas, and even Chicago for that matter wish they had a natural AC like the Bay. Go rays Build the Damn staduim

[Just Slapped]

Just remember when big bucks are involved your going to get pumped. It's all a tax payer scam......

[Paul]

So for all of us weather battled people who live in Florida, I agree, we may be able to handle an outdoor event here and there.

However, its Silverman himself who was telling the TDC just yesterday that the new stadium will draw additional thousands from out of state, including those fans from other teams who find it more cost effective to come down to St Pete to see their team play against the Rays.

I have family and friends from up north who come to visit me here in St Pete. If they're here during the hot/warm time of year, they can't take the heat and humidity for very long. I think Silverman has it backwards. The fans from other teams will fly down here, sit outside and get a dose of heat and humidity and think twice about coming back.

[Joseph]

Edward - go to this link and click on the upper right photo. That is the view you say will be "horrid." Looks pretty fantastic to me.

http://www.majorleaguedowntown.com/VideoImages.aspx

[Nancy]

Just another example of the fat cats wasting taxpayers money. There is nothing wrong with the existing statdium! We have poured thousands of dollars into Tropicana, only to tear it down?? Please, there other more worthy causes for our tax dollars. Those of you who don't live in Pinellas County who think it's such a great idea, aren't paying for it, only enjoying the benefits.

[Ray F]

and Nancy,

Those of us who do live in Pinellas county get all the credit for having such a state of the art facility.

I don't charge my friends to come watch my t.v. when they didn't pay for it. When they tell me they had a great time at my house watching a game on my HD tv I feel privaledged to have hosted and made them comfortable at my house.

You don't get it. If you go to Tampa for a Lightning game, do you feel like you're duping the people of Hillsborough because they had to pay for the Times Forum???

Of course not. You think of the experience you had.

Hate it.

[Mandy]

Who payed for this video to be made and, if it was the city, how many taxpayer dollars did it cost?

[Jim]

Beautiful! What a terrific enhancement it will be to this growing city. Let's build it and the tourists will come spend money in St Pete 81 nights each year.

I am very excited about this stadium. St Pete will be showcased throughout the county. We'll host an All Star game!

Go Rays!!!

[Ray F]

Aaron,

Is there a video of what it would look like with the top down???

Preferably with the Rays kicking the you-know-what out of the Red Sux?

[MoveTheDome.com]

I agree with Micah... the dome on the water is an ideal scenario! There is a picture @ movethedome.com.

How about a video of that?

[MoveAwayFromStPete]

Anyone that thinks they should "move the dome" is a simpleton! The dome is 50% of the problem ... the other 50% is the location!

[Misterbrad]

If you ignorant anti-Baseball fans dont want the team here thats fine,don't support it,And do not complain about it.Please just allow the people who love Baseball,support it and enjoy it to get their enjoyment from it.Don't spoil everyones elses fun becouse you could care less.This is America Remember! Everyone should try and get along,and we will all be better of.

[Jon McPhee]

Misterbrad, I like your implicit idea that the giant subsidy should be paid for by only those who, as you put it, "love Baseball,support it and enjoy it to get their enjoyment from it.Don't spoil everyones elses fun becouse you could care less." You go, man -- instead of sending that "seed money" check to Rod Parsley or John Hagee as your prayer to God for prosperity, send it direct to Stu and Mr. Cold. They promise prosperity out of "simple belief," too.

Make sure it's enough to cover your full share of $500 million or $1 billion, or whatever the final number is.

But what you actually want is for the rest of us to "try and get along" by paying out the nose for your preferences. The panhandlers at our major intersections would blush at asking for "freeloading" on this scale. At least their little shabby cardboard signs have more information on them than the scammers in the Rays owners' offices are putting out. God Bless You!

[Rick K]

I want Jon McPhee and his ilk to pay us for NOT pursuing these paired redevelopment deals.

First, I want POWW to come up with $1.2 BILLION to spend on downtown construction between 2009 and 2015.

Then, I want POWW to come up with a plan to put the $1 Billion these paired redevelopment proposals will pump into the local tax coffers over the next three decades.

I want every detail of where POWW is getting that money up front. I want a guarantee that they will pay the money, too.

I want no one who favors redeveloping the Trop or redeveloping Al Lang field to have to pay one penny, either.

When POWW has come up with a plan that does all of the above, we will take their complaints about financing seriously.

These proposals aren't going to COST this region money, they are goint to MAKE us money!

[bud]

I could care less about POWW, but I'm still against this stadium nonsense.