Al Lang Field no longer in the running; what it means

The Rays' Michael Kalt said today what most people in St. Petersburg thought: A new ballpark at Al Lang Field isn't happening.

Kalt was open and frank during a 20-minute discussion. He said the team thought they could make a downtown St. Petersburg stadium work if it was done right (i.e. not like the Trop). But now Kalt and the Rays brass are starting to think a new ballpark can't even do it alone.

He said that means rebuilding on the current Tropicana Field site might not be the great option many others do.

The team's focus most certainly will now turn to the Gateway area in St. Petersburg, which many county leaders prefer but many city leaders are hesitant to support.

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

With St. Pete's waterfront out, where should the Rays look next for a stadium?

The Tampa Bay Rays management has officially killed the team's proposal for a new baseball stadium on downtown St. Petersburg's waterfront. And now say they are unsure whether a new stadium could succeed anywhere in downtown St. Pete, even where they currently play at Tropicana Field.

"It's pretty clear people did not want a ballpark down there," Rays senior vice president Michael Kalt said Friday. "From what we're seeing, we're probably in that camp, too."

Now that a waterfront stadium is out, which site should the team consider?
Toytown
St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport
Tampa
New stadium at the Trop
Keep Trop, no need for new stadium