Rays investigated seven potential sites

The Rays have released a report to the ABC baseball coalition that discusses in detail seven potential sites for a baseball stadium. The Rays say this work was done during their preliminary fact-finding, which would have occured at least 18 months ago. But the report clearly has been updated. (UPDATE: You can watch Bay News 9's story on our story --- and me in an ugly striped polo shirt here).

(Update 2: The ABC coalition has posted the report. You can download it here).

The sites are all in Pinellas County.

They are:

1. Al Lang Field
2. Carillon Town Center
3. Derby Lane
4. St. Petersburg Clearwater Airport/Airco Golf Course
5. Sod Farm
6. Toytown
7. Tropicana Field

The report itself is 64 pages and I only have a hard copy, so I can't post a link. But here are some highlights.

Based on what I read, Carillon seems to be have the most going for it. The Rays identified about 15 acres located near the intersection of Ulmerton Road and Carillon Parkway. Though the land is privately owned, it has the largest population within a 30 minute drive and is most favorable, according to the Rays, in terms of necessary infrastructure and parking improvements. The Rays say there also are likely no environmental concerns at the site.

It seems Toytown, the Pinellas County owned landfill could present significant obstacles for a new ballpark.

And the Rays acknowledge there are significant questions about locating a new stadium in downtown St. Petersburg, when it is far away from the population and geographic center of the Tampa Bay area.

The report draws no conclusions --- at least the version that was transmitted to ABC. Meanwhile, ABC has just started its work on stadium options. Sembler Co. executive Craig Sher, who is leading that group's work, said it will likely be months before anything of significance is decided.

We're working on a story to run sometime in the next week or so in the St. Petersburg Times. But for Ballpark Frankness, I decided to scoop myself.

Comments

[bob guckenberger]

Let's just do it ABC, stop the monthly meetings and get down to work, instead of saying it will be months before anything will be decided. Stu may not have that patience.

[Not on my dime]

Some seem to keep forgetting that the Rays could buy the Carillon site and start the permitting/design process as soon as they wish. They don't need ABC.

All they have to do is use their own capital.

We the taxpayers have had quite enough.

[get-smart]

AAron, I thought the sour economy and the hit on Mikey's reputation put the Rays in hibernation. Boy was I wrong.

Carillon Town Center is my #1.

[Scaramouche]

Aaron, do I start to detect just a soupcon of skepticism in your diction these days? "at least the version that was transmitted to ABC..."

Is there a place to put down a bet on what will happen between now and November 3, 2009, in that mythical land called StadiumWorld?

Are we on line to be "had" by these thieves again?

[get-smart]

AAron put on your gum shoes and see if Sembler owns the 15 acres in question at Carillon.

Now, that would be a real twist. Imagine the Rays buying land that is owned, newly purchased or with a buy option, by Sembler. What are the odds of that happening? 10,000,000:1 ?

[Aaron Sharockman]

FYI, The owner of the Carillon land is Echelon Development, headed by Daryl LeClair. If you're in search of a conspiracy theory, here's one: LeClair was on the chamber's blue ribbon baseball task force....

[Frank J]

All these sites stink. Move to Tampa. How about a new website: www.majorleaguedowntownTampa.com.

[Clear Direction]

Aaron,

Really, the shirt isn't that bad!

The Carrillon location may be a good choice. As far as a "conspiracy theroy" the Blue ribbon task force reccommended the worst location (Al Lang).

Eschelon has owned this location for years and has built several commercial and residential projects at this site.

One interesting note is that the ABC Site selection committee is chaied by Craig Sher who is a bussiness associate and friend of Daryl Leclair's.

I think that if the research indicates that the Carrillon site is the best choice that it would probably be acceptable to the Mayor (it is in St. Pete) and the Rays.

It will depend upon how the financing is proposed as whether it will be acceptable to the citizens.

Lets hope the ABC Coalition is as concerned about the taxpayers as they are about the Ray's!

Really the shirt is fine!

[mockdraught]

Whoa! Some might not know this: the Carillon area FLOODS. Remember the rainstorm spring 2006? So, a dome would make no difference if the place is inaccessible due to roads under feet of water. For some reason, when they developed Carillon, they were allowed to lay the roads on a grade BELOW that of adjacent Roosevelt Blvd.

[Mark]

The question should also be how are the taxpayers to pay for this. The Rays will not contribute to their stadium for we in this state have decided that stadiums are a public priority, just like roads, jails, and schools (well, obviously, more important than schools). Where will the taxpayer come from to make the Rays richer?

[fiscal responsibility]

With the City's 221 million unfunded health care supplement obligation for its pensioners, together with the unfunded pension themselves, there is no City money available for any more such facilities.

[Sabine]

What are you and Michael Kalt smoking?? I want some.

This report is so outdated, and proven wrong in so many ways during the past year, that I cannot believe you would even consider it newsworthy, except to antagonize people.

How about some real reporting??

[Frank]

Your being interviewed on TV, as an effective spokesman for the Rays, certainly shows how neutral & objective you and the Times are.

I remember when this town had a real newspaper. Now the Times is about as fair and balanced as Fox News.

[Can't believe my eyes!!!]

Gee whiz, a sixty-four page report and
the lies start on page 2. This wasn't and isn't a public process - just more Rays rah-rah.

Another little oopsie? Even considering Derby Lane as a site when the land owners have said they're not selling. Oh, since we're on the subject of that particular parcel, anybody remember what the residents up there had to say about Wal-Mart traffic on their F-Service road, Gandy Boulevard? As I recall it, the residents won that little set-to and against big, bad Wal-Mart too.

The prize for moxie must go to the St. Pete/Clearwater Airport & Airco Golf Course choice. After all, why would the County mind destroying the airport and giving (I'm sure) the land to the Rays? I'm also sure the FAA and the Coasties will smile, nod and rubber stamp this pie in the sky idiocy. NOT!!!

They still lust after Al Lang and have trotted out all the old tired excuses about Tropicana Field so it's pretty obvious they haven't heard a word of what MOST of the people here have been trying to tell them all along. Stay in your current home and learn to love it for at least 25 more years. It's what you (and we) can afford.

At least they seemed to understand that Grady Pridgeon at La Entrada and the Eschelon folks at Carillon won't be just handing them land for free. And, of course, nowhere in the report are financing details discussed. Could it be that the Rays people think a World Series appearance changed all of our minds and we're now ready to pay for it all?

The Rays will get a new stadium when they pay for it. LOL

Donwload the petitions at the POWW website, sign them and send them in. STOP THIS MADNESS before they use up one more dime of public money pushing this arrant nonsense.

[9equals8.com]

There's a very cool map on these locations on the web. I posted it on my blog (bottom of the post):

http://www.9equals8.com/2008/12/tampa-bay-rays-identify-7-potential.html

It's nice to see the Rays giving serious thought to a more central location. Carillon would be a pretty interesting location, in my opinion. The St. Pete Times published some of its thoughts on that site here:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article954729.ece

Apparently, the next ABC meeting is tomorrow, so stay tuned!

[Paul]

The only thing that needs investigating is the Rays themselves. Open those books up for us to see what OUR money has been buying us over the past years.