Fun with pictures

Two new renderings of the proposed new waterfront stadium. The one on the top is courtesy of the city, which put the staduim design into a fancy 3-d computer program they have. The view is looking north on First Street.

The second rendering comes from POWW. Their view is from the Mahaffey Theater parking lot, south of the stadium.

In the city's image, the stadium looks to blend in nicely from the street level on First Street (you can't even see the mast). In POWW's image, the comparison is made between the 320-foot-tall mast and the city's Bank of America tower. Both say their drawings are accurate...

Comments

[Chuck]

Don,

Show me one document claiming it will cost the city half a billion dollars. You can't. Lie #1.

I've never met a conservative that was against amendment 1 so you're obviously posing or lying. We'll say Lie #2.

Boo hoo!

[Brendan]

Wow. I hope USF doesn't play so bad that we have to accept a bid for the St. Pete Bowl. I guess I misunderstood that you were talking about the greater Tampa Bay Area as well. State Theatre, Jannus Landing, Vinoy Park, Clearwater Jazz Festival, Threshers Stadium. I live in St. Pete and don't think of us as the red-headed stepchild. It was my opinion, I voiced it. I guess I don't think hopping on 275 and driving 20 or so minutes to a football, hockey, or concert is that bad.

PEACE

[Don in St. Pete]

Chuck, Wake up man, your dream bublle is about to burst and you'll hit the ground hard with no leftist pillow to cushion your fall. I hate to clue you in dude, but you don't have a clue! Us conservatives are against any new taxes. So who were you referring to getting their big funding requests fulfilled? Maybe it was the 49 people who got fired last year because of Ammendment #1? Or how about the larger number about to get fired this year? And you want to give a half a billiondollars to a bunch of millionaires? Give me a freakin' break. Charity has to end somewhere. You want the stadium so bad you and you buddies Bodog and Mike can put up the money.

[Don in St. Pete]

It's really refreshing to see all you out of towners on here suggesting we should pay for a free stadium for the freeloaders from New York. I guess you're hoping for a taxi to and from Orlando and Tampa to see the games so you can drink all you want too? Maybe we should just build free light rail for y'all too. I guess a few free beer coupons wouldn't hurt either since you'll buy `em anyway. Obviously as long as you guys don't have to pay for it everything is cool.

[Lorraine]

Chuck says:

"In a word, they are unreasonable kooks who will cut down anyone that doesn't conform to their ultra-leftist agenda.
As you well know you can't debate the irrational. Read further and discover the "sea grass" and "manatee" issues facing our community."

Dear Chuck,

I thought you said I was a good person. I am so dissappointed.......oh, Karl Nurse ANTI-STADIUM....made it onto city council tonight to replace Earnest Williams. I think it's already up to 4 votes....just one more solid, and this will be done.

Thanks for at least faking an acceptance and tolerance of other views........I looked here because I feared that it was all a sham......you'll still have fun at the Trop. I'll look forward to seeing your list of volunteer hours for other causes that benefit ANYTHING other than your own well-being.....

Oh, here's the lates FORBES listings on the business of Baseball:

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/33/biz_baseball08_The-Business-Of-Baseball_Rank.html

Seemingly the Rays ownership made 29.7 MILL from these recorded factoids.......so, do they really need our city/county dollars to finance anything?

[Bodog]

Jesse, Jesse, somebody hit a nerve, but like Jimbo says "What the hell does what you spouted have to do with the price of eggs in China". I'll tell you - just like your blogs on the stadium issue - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - no merits whatsoever.

[Chuck]

Jesse you sound really cool. Since you're planning on counting your money by the pool for the rest of your life, what's the big deal about no more $1 hotdogs?

BTW, it's really cool of you to let your girl pose for Maxim, since, you know...she'll probably end up dating Carl Crawford as a result.

What if he brought her to the opening game at the new stadium? Man that would be funny.

[Jimbo]

What the heck does any of that have to do with a stadium blog? Is this your form of self-validation (Ooooooh, Jesse's a member of a elitist club w/a moderately hot gf...I believe everything he says now)? Dude, no one cares if you're a 28 year-old stud w/20 cars and a 2nd house on South Beach or if you're a 50 year-old comic nerd living in his mom's basement. Stop trying to over-compensate and just realize you don't really have an argument.

Like you said, you have an opinion, and that's cool, I respect opinions...just market it as such and stop trying to spew it off as fact, especially when there's facts to debunk yours. You'll get a little more support for your OPINIONS then if you did it that way.

[Jesse]

opinions are like a%% holes, everyones got one...Im really not on here to argue and if I had the time to BLOG all day and really validate my points they would not be flawed...No matter what the topic is or what the blog is about people are gonna disagree and go back and forth..Bulding a new stadium has its pros and cons...

And BTW, the 3 in affordability is in ALL major sports, not just baseball..

So if your gonna keep calling my name out and saying im narrow minded so be it..Do u really think I care??? Your probably one of those normal everyday routine kinda guys married with kids and a depressing life..While you are writing novel sized BLOGS dissin people, Ill be loungin by the pool countin money... Im 28, a teacher, partial owner of a business, season ticket holder, member of the Belleview Biltmore golf club/resort and have 3 months off in the summer, oh yeah and the girl im seeing is in the running for maxim's hometown hotties contest...So do u think I care what JIMBO and BODOG say about me on a blog...Obviously calling people names that you dont know is pretty childish..

And I wont be reading these anymore so if you waste your time responding, it will be just that, A WASTE OF TIME!!!

GO RAYS...

[Jimbo]

Oh, and Brendan, you named venues only in Tampa. In case you're missing the point, we're trying to get a viable venue here in St. Pete. I won't speak for others, but I can't stand driving to Tampa anymore if I want to see something other than baseball. I know I have to still go over there for hockey and the like. However, St. Pete's no longer Tampa's red-headed stepchild, and we won't be treated as such anymore. Sorry you don't want to go to a bowl game at a baseball stadium or a concert there. Guess that's one more seat available this December when USF plays UCF at the Trop.

[Bodog]

Lololol, Jesse, Jesse, my man Jesse. You always seem to slant facts / figure to your advantage when its suits you best. You mentioned that you are a teacher. normally that would mean something, it doesn't. You also missquoted the fact that the Rays are 3rd in all of Professional Sports in affordability - they are 3rd in MLB. Jesse, I don't know if you read the entire Fan Satisfaction Report, however; because there were a few catagories you missed. Fans relations (101), Players likability (81), fans stad. exper. (112). Yeah! one could get a cheat hotdog at the Trop, but those other catagories concern me. Ya see Jesse, I don't know of another stadium in the country that has $1.00 hotdog / coke night, but that is a non issue. If you remember, the year after the Marlins won the World Series - they cleared house, got rid of all their good players - that's why the fans stop coming. The owner of the Marlins pulled a Vince Naimoli on the fans, he gave them nothing. Individuals on this site continue to speak of the elements, heat, rain, thunder, lighting, to an open air stadium. The new Rays Stadium will be covered - just not your conventional domed covering. Let's give Stu and his boys some credit for having already considered those faucets. In an earlier blog, you made mention of the same old story about how people were gonna come to the Suncoast Dome once it was built, I'll tell ya Jesse.People made such a ruckus over the location of the Dome being built that it actually scared folks away from coming to ANY event held there. Remember that Jesse, the stadium shouldn't be in the Gas Plant area, "Bad location", noone will come, fans from Hillsboro, Manatee and other surrounding Counties won't show because they're get mugged. Jesse, I'll bet you were one the same individuals who opposes the new stadium that sprouted that crap about building Trop Field where it is now, It got built anyway dude. Guess what, nooone can complain now about the location of the new stadium, relatively crime free, beautiful sights, and that includes chicks jogging, roller blading, taking a leisurely walk, walking their dogs, hell they may even spend a few bucks and come to a game or two. Do I wanna see out-of-towners overrunning our city's bar, pubs, and eatery, and hotels - you damn skippy. It's called EXPOSURE. A certain group of business people will profit from it, but that's okay, it'll help the city - maybe even put a couple of dollars in that education budget you spoke of. Jesse, you are narrow minded, you are incapable of seeing further than the tip of your nose. Yeah! we are fools Jesse, but fools with vision. You said that you were in section 147. I'm in section 148 RCF, hopefully I'll see ya at the Boston game. Look people, because we disagree on certain issues that will impact us doesn't make us emenies - this is good healthy discussion. Those people in City Hall - Stu and his boys, should join in, get an ideal or two of what the PEOPLE THINK. Remember guys and girls - "The greatest commodity of any community is it's citizens".

[Jimbo]

Really? Just because you throw away your money on seats that are just as good as mine doesn't make you any better than me. It just makes you a little less intelligent, even if you are a teacher. Apparently, economics wasn't your strong point.

I'm sorry your cousin is "challenged" (I think that's the PC-word today, but I'm sure that'll change tomorrow), and obviously there was no disrespect toward him/her meant, seeing as I don't know you or them. However, would you rather me compare it to a man-junk size contest? If so, put it away...no one wants to see it.

Point is, your argument all around is flawed. Now you're saying that if they build a new stadium, prices of hot dogs and beer will go up? Having to start statements w/"Imagine" just shows you're grasping at straws. The Yankees charge $6.75 for hot dogs and $9.50 for beer because they can...they're the Yankees...and that's in a 70 year-old stadium.

The Rays would keep the prices consistent because if they start jacking up the prices, no one would come. Stu and Co's not stupid to that fact; they're trying to bring more fans to the park, not alienate them.

C'mon, Jesse, you can do better than that. Why not spout off about taxes or the environment, or even how "Big corporations are out to get us all," like your brothers-in-arms Justin and Charlie?

I've always said I support everyone's opinions, both for and against, but if you're going to base those opinions on debunked rumors or outright lies, then I'll call you out on it, simple as that.

[Jesse]

303, ouch, you can find me in the first row in left center section 147..Id come look for you but thats alooong walk up to the nosebleeds!!!!

And im a teacher, we dont use the word retard anymore in society, its pretty degrading..And I actually have a cousin who as you put it is "retarded" so you better watch what you say Jimbo..

On another note, if you go to this site
http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/mag/franchiseRanks?lpos=spotlight&lid=tab7pos1
You will see that the Rays are ranked #3 out of ALL the major sprts teams in affordabilty..Imaginw what the prices for things will go up to with the new stadium..I have been to Yankee stadium for $6.75 hotdogs and 9.50 beer..Look for our prices to skyrocket also...

[Chuck]

Fenton,

Don't try to figure out what goes through the minds of some of the people in this town.

They don't want the stadium but they're quick to request funding for things that fit their agendas. Typical hypocrisy.

For the most part it's a group of individuals (a large group unfortunately) who feel alienated by organized sports to the point that they actively campaign against something that glorifies what they see as a social regression.

In a word, they are unreasonable kooks who will cut down anyone that doesn't conform to their ultra-leftist agenda.
As you well know you can't debate the irrational. Read further and discover the "sea grass" and "manatee" issues facing our community. It makes me want to pack up and move to Trinity.

Dig the show - keep up the solid work.

Go Noles.

[Brendan]

and Jimbo, concerts and bowl games in a baseball stadium? You've obviously never seen either of them played at a baseball stadium because they SUCK for the spectators AND the players. Too far away from the action to enjoy it and the players have to deal with warning tracks and using the same sideline for both teams. You want a concert venue? OK. Go see The Boss at St. Pete Times Forum. You want Dave Matthews Band? OK. Go to the Amphitheatre. You want a bowl game? OK. Go to RJS or UCF's new stadium. This stadium will be used for one thing. Baseball. Just keep the discussion about usages of the stadium relevant to baseball, because there are too many other outdoor and indoor venues in the Tampa Bay area that can support them already. By the way, I'm a rabid USF fan/student and I DON'T want there to be a bowl game at the Trop!

[Brendan]

I agree with Jesse's comment about the hot chicks.

[Jimbo]

Oooohhh...you beat somebody on a blog, Jesse. I hope you feel like a real man now. You know, fighting on a blog is like winning the Special Olympics: you may have won, but you're still a retard.

The problem is with your story. There hasn't been anything good, other than the constant 72° and no weather to speak of, said by any players, other than some Rays. Ballpark Digest's review is here: http://www.ballparkdigest.com/visits/tropicana.htm Other reviews can be found here: http://www.sportsblah.com/2006_08_01_archive.html (called "Temple of Doom") and here: http://www.rateitall.com/i-26-tropicana-field-tampa-bay-devil-rays.aspx While I know those aren't directly players' quotes (I tried Googling for a while, but ti's so hard to find anything that way), it gives a sense that people aren't really too keen on the Trop. Much more realistic than your rosy "everybody loves it" mentality.

Am I saying it's a bad stadium? Not at all; in fact, I like it. However, it served its purpose, and that was to get a team here. Now that we have one, why not keep them happy and keep the fans happy as well? The plurality of fans would love to have see them remain competitive, and the best way for that is a new stadium. Yeah, it can't buy a new roster or improve the players we have, but it will give bigger TV contracts, All-Star games, and other revenue streams to the team that they can use to up the payroll even more than they did this year.

Plus, the 3/4 of the year the Rays aren't using it, it's the City's to do with it as they please. Remember, this stadium is being built with the City as the owner, NOT the Rays, so the City controls what goes on there when the Rays are not there. Concerts, events, and a bowl game which looks like might be here sooner than everyone anticipated.

Oh, and I'm a season ticket holder myself. Sec 303, if you ever have any questions, come and find me!

[Jesse]

WHY DO YOU THINK THE MARLINS ARE BUILDING A DOME/RETRACTABLE ROOF??? Because open air stadiums in June thru August are too hot...The year after they won the World Series they could barely get 5,000 per game...I used to live in Miami and yeah its a few degrees hotter, but I know soooo many people that wouldnt go to the games because of the heat..Spring training games at Bright House field in the Spring are bareable but when the sun is beating on you for 3 hours it gets old..

And P.S. how is the trop an atrocity??? Its clean, it has so much to do inside, its 72 degrees year round, no rainouts, the players LOVE it..Every Yankee (since most of them live down here and I have actually had a convo w jeter about it at a signing) says they LOVE playing indoors, no cold to pull muscles, no bugs...Remember last years playoff game, Yanks vs Indians and the thousands of bugs..Its even worse down here..

So you tell me Mr.I live in Tampa Bobby Fenton and have probably only been to a few rays games how is the Trop an atrocity...

From a loyal 3 yr season ticket holder rays fan....

OUT

[Bobby Fenton]

The lack of foresight and attention to detail many people have, and the distrust that so many of you share is disappointing to put it mildly. I'm not a St. Pete guy. I'm a Tampa guy. But I'm looking at it from you guys' standpoint, and you ought to be absolutely frothing at the mouth at the chance to have something like this on your downtown waterfront. The former policeman and other previous posters were right, this would increase foot traffic and activity downtown there outside of the baseball games alone, gorgeous views, and something we could all be proud of. Instead, we have people as dense as those like JOB who say they need air conditioning and worry about rainouts. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION - While the sail-like covering would not entirely seal off the stadium, IT WOULD PREVENT RAINOUTS AND DELAYS accept for the most severe storm situations. How do so many people who come armed with a list of complaints also come armed with so little information?

If I lived in Pinellas, I'd vote yes in a heartbeat.

P.S. - The Trop is an atrocity. I can't believe you people talk about how much you love it. Go to a real ballpark, then come back and tell me you'd take the Trop over that.

[Jesse]

They cried the same story when the built the trop..OHHH its gonna bring in sooo much revenue and soo manypeople from sarasota and other towns blah blah blah....Now they are gonna waste 400+ million on an unnecessary stadium when our FLA education system is getting over 50-60 million in budget cuts...Quit your "its the elements of baseball, and grab a hot dog and a beer, and enjoy the Dali while your down there" The Dali closes at 6, we can eat hot dogs and drink beer in climate controlled weather and who cares about peopl easking you what there is to do..Do you really want bars and stuff more crowded with out of towners?? Unless they are hot chicks, I dont...WASTE OF MONNEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY...

[Bodog]

It's clear to me that there are Rays fans and non Rays Fans on this blog just as there are supporters for the new stadium and those who oppose a new stadium. I'll say it once again - that new stadium will definitely benefit the downtown area. Yes JB, we are fools to pay for 3/4 of the monies to have the stadium built, but guess what - we fools understand what the benefits of having that stadium will bring in the long run. No! we fools won't benefit montarily from the stadium being built. You, me, and all the others who support or oppose the stadium won't get one red cent. I'm looking beyond what it's going to cost me to have the stadium built to reap the pleasures and enjoyments of what it will bring once it is built. The Rays are a MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM ( like it or not) and SAINT PETERSBURG is a MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CITY (believe it or not). Our Rays, for their 12 year existence, have exclusively lived in last place in the AL East, and for US Rays fan - we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. In the very near future, we Rays fans WILL walk into "Rays Stadium" with our heads held high thumbing our noses at those Bosox and Yankee faithfuls, smirking at them as our Rays kick their tails in our stadium. If you are a TRUE baseball fan, a fan of your HOME team, then you would understand that this goes far, far beyond any money amount to build the stadium. The Yankee's baseball team doesn't make Yankee stadium the stadium that it is. The Red Soxs team doesn't make Fenway Park the stadium
it is - IT'S THE FANS, the HISTORY of those parks. The Rays have gotten rid of almost everything that was associated with the DEVIL RAYS of VINCE NAMOLI. I say almost because the last obstacle in our way of a NEW BEGINNING is TROPICANA FIELD. Let's begin our HISTORY in our new "RAYS STADIUM". Demolish Trop Field and let a new era of Rays baseball begin. I've lived in this city for most of my life, except when I went off to college, I remember the days of our downtown looking like a ghost town, green benches, with nothing to do. I venture to say that a good portion of the people of this city also remember those days. This city has come a long, long, long way since those days. It would be a disgrace if this City's leaders and the people of this city allow a few narrow minded individuals who are afraid of progress, and it doesn't matter who pays for it, to let this city takes two steps backwards. WE don't need another doggie park downtown. It's like what NEW stated on his / her comment "The stadium will transform downtown St. Pete into one of the more alluring Cities on the Southeast".

[New]

New waterfront Rays stadium along w/Trop redevelopment is going to transform St. Pete into one of the most alluring city in the southeast US for many generations to come. Our downtown will thrive & truly become major leaque big time. It's a WIN-WIN for Pinellas County & surrounding Bay area counties.

Jimbo there's really no issue, just narrow minded[in the box]thinkers trying to shout the loudest as is always the case w/the opposition.

Great common sense, educated insight Bodog, keep up the knowledgeable post.

Go Rays & a win tonight over the Jay and kiss the cellar goodbye.

[M]

Man that things huge! Look at that giant lightning rod, almost as tall as the Bank of America Tower. How many games will be delayed or canceled because of lightning? Isn't that one of the reasons the Marlins want an actual roof?

This thing is clearly too big for this location.

Ask the thousands of people with red signs in their yards and black and white bumper stickers on their cars why there's an issue.

Ask the tens of thousands of people represented by the ever increasing number of organizations that have come out against the plan why there's a problem.

If you like this plan, fine. If you've been sold on its supposed (hypothetical) benefits, fine.

But most people have not and will not.

You can attack me personally if you want, but numbers don't lie. Cant wait to vote it down in November.

[Jimbo]

Frank, that's only during the summer, when it gets 95° during the day. We're talking mid- to late-June through early September. That's only about 50-60 days. And besides, even if it were 81 times a year. So what? 1/4 of a year is nothing compared to the 3/4 of the year that it won't be open. Also, with the possibility of headline concerts, All-Star games, and even bowl games, plus the boost the redevelopment of the Trop will bring, why is there even an issue?

[Frank]

The Rays wrote something about the sail being up on game days before the game even if it is not up for the game. That is 85 days =/- a year. That is very close to a full quarter of the year.

[Frank]

The POWW! view is from the East (water), not the South. It also includes an outline of the existing Tropicana Field, to give you a feeling for its mass, as well as its height.

[ron_fl]

A blue hair here, in point of fact no hair. It seems obvious to me that an outdoor stadium is what the Rays want, ok, give it to them. Make the top of the Trop convertible. It solves all the problems that are voiced here. It cannot cost nearly as much, in fact it would not cost the community anything with the Rays coming with the same amount of contribution to put on a new roof. Now no rainouts, always having the option of closing the top. The seating is about the same, parking available, what more do you want? a view of a marina? Paint one of the walls.

[JB]

Looks like alot of people dont go to games. The Rays are last AGAIN in Attendance!!!

Build a stadium for 8000 Fans??!~! That really is a Joke. Just keep Al Lang Stadium the way it is there are enought seats already.. It would never sell out anyway...LOLOLOLOL

Stop drinking the KOOL AID of these Owners...

[Vern]

I think we can make this real simple. If you don't want to brave the "elements" of an outdoor stadium - don't go to the games. There will be enough of us to pack the stadium anyway. If you don't want to enhance the image of downtown St Pete - then move somewhere else and live out the rest of your cranky, miserable, grumpy days complaining about heat, traffic, and grocery prices. "get busy living or get busy dying"

[Mike]

JB Do you stay at the local hotels very often? Because unless i missed something it's a proposed 1 penny hotel tax in addition to the 150 million the Rays are commiting.So I imagine mostly people from your home state will be paying the bill. Im assuming your from somewhere other than Florida...:)

[Zenny]

It pretty funny how the anti-stadium people only release renderings of the proposed stadium with the roof/sail fully unfurled. It would only look like that during day games or when it's raining during a game, which would not be often at all.

[JB]

BODOG..If the New owners want a Stadium then they should pay for the WHOLE THING!! I will pay to go see their product. But dont make me Pay for the Stadium.. you guys are fools to pay the 300 million left to pay..

It will never fly

[Bodog]

@JB:
He who laughs first - cries last! Personally, when it all boils down, the people of this city and county will do the right thing and vote Yes on the new stadium. I can remember all the ruckus being made about the construction of the now Trop Field, just like the ruckus is being made about the new "Rays Stadium". The people voted yes. The city has come a long ways since those days. The Rays have come a long ways since the VINCE NAMOLI days. Steinberg and his group have had this ball club for only two years and they have made substanial strides in developing a winning product on the diamond. Yes! the results seem to be the same as the Namoli days, but rest assured, those days are long gone. It's only a matter of time before this baseball club becomes a winner, even competing and overtaking the Yankees, Bosox. Stu and his boys have a set plan and this plan is to win by not going out and buying overpriced over the hill baseball players. They are developing their players thru the minor league system. Teams like the Twins, Royals, Rangers,Orioles, just to name a few are taking their leads from the Rays and developing their talent thru the farm system as well. Granted - those teams have a certain amount of veterans on their roster to win ball games, point in case, the Rays have included Henski, Floyd, Percival, Miller, Wheeler, to the roster and results will be forth coming. We are only 20 - 21 games into the season, I won't get my underwears in a bunch because the team is five game out. I'm not even concerned at this point about the teams standings. This team will get rolling once Kaz, Floyd, Navarro, Zorbist, and maybe Graza get back to playing and pitching. You will see a better lineup and better pitching once all these factors are stabalized. The Orioles aren't gonna hold up, the Yankees are on the down slide,the Rays and Jays are playing even ball - eventhough the won / loss record doesn't indicate it. When you measure the worth of a ball club, don't look at the won / loss record, look at how these guys are playing as a team. Some nights these guys make you want to upchuck when you are watching them play and other nights you watch them play and go "WOW". They just need to play with more consistency every night. If I'm not mistaken, this ball club is only second to the white Sox in runs scored, second in the league with homeruns, any other team and that will equate to wins, however; with the Rays that is not the case. Somewhere in those 9 inning, the Rays will do something to lose that game. Reminds me of the old Bucs - you could bet your house on them commiting a comedy of errors, same thing with the Rays. These guys are coming around, I'm not worried about the won / lost record ( not yet at lease)let's see how far behind they are in June or July. For you stadium haters, I haven't heard not one valid reason from you guys and gals on why the new stadium shouldn't be built. Please tell me you aren't building your hopes on the stadium not being built because, IE;
(1) you don't won't to walk a certain distance to get to the stadium.
(2). It's too hot to be sitting outside in an open air stadium
(3) It's gonna rain, lighting / thunder, Hells bells man doesn't it rain, lighting, thunder, snow, cold weather in all the other stadiums across the country. Has anyone been in Texas stadium in the summer, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, the heat in those stadiums are damn near as bad as being in Florida
(4) Bugs are gonna get me, Lol!
(5)Stu and his boys are gonna benefit from a new staduim. Hell, the man paid millions of dollars for the club - who else should benefit.
Jeeze guys and gals enjoy the elements of an open air stadium, have a hotdog or two, a few cups or bottle of beers, tell your wife, girlfriend, or boyfriend, whomever you decide to go too the game with you luv'em and enjoy a good baseball game on the BEST waterfront in the whole US of A.

[Ryan]

I moved here from Wisconsin 2 years ago and I've become a Rays fan. I love the idea of the new stadium. People who don’t usually go to games will come out, no question. I have many friends who will NOT go to a Rays game with me because they are not baseball fans and, as they say, there's nothing to do. With this new stadium those same friends will come because there are plenty of places to go after the game. NOT SO at the Trop. There is nothing better than going to a game at Wrigley Field and shooting over to one of the bars after to have a few beers with fellow fans. This place will never come close to Wrigley but at least it people can make a night out of it and not hit 275 after the game and bolt. As far as the weather, baseball is best played and viewed outside. A little sweat, sunburn & a cold one is part of America’s pastime. This team is showing that they are moving forward and are committed to winning. Don’t look at the record just yet, we have yet to take the field with a 100% healthy team. .500 is well within reach. And if you don’t want the downtown streets of St. Pete to become crowded and have a lot of traffic on game days then move to Riverview. This helps everyone & helps the City of St Pete most!

[Vern]

I wonder how all those people that watched games years before there were domes did it? They must have been crazy to sit outside in the heat? It's simple, you live in Florida for a reason - deal with it. You're not going to die watching a game outside for 3 hours. Geez....

[Mike/ Tampa]

Good points Bodog. But you will never sell the idea to the Blue hairs in the community. A far as the younger crowd most have transplanted here so the only time they are at the trop is when the NY, Boston, Chicago or whatever colder than all hell I need to move to Florida city they moved from. It's funny to listen to all the opposition for this porposal from scores of people in and around the immediate St Pete area when most if not damn near all of them never even support this team. Iv'e been to three games this season and live in Orlando.Each game has been lucky to have 10,000-15,000 people in attendance. If even half of the nay sayers showed up we would have more revenue for all these things ie better team and stadiums.They only like to complain about how they are in last place wa wa wa.. You know what. Get your A55 off the couch and go support the team. Then maybe they will keep building out this team to become a winner. Maybe most of you novices are out of touch with the game but there is no Salary Cap in Baseball therefore no parity. If we ever hope to compete with the 200 million payrolls of the top teams its only going to happen if we support them before they are winners not just jumping on the ship once they get there..(Punks) Oh and as far as the 1 penny tax the team has asked for tell me how much money that would take out of St Pete residents pockets again? It's a hotel bed tax people.. Sounds like a bunch of Democrats in this city always bitching about the negative and not offering much in the way of the positive impacts even if they are 5-10 years down the line. What happens in 7 years when the team buys out the Trop lease and moves? Then where would you be with that funny colored building an unused stadium and no people on the streets besides the nay sayers?

[Liz]

Love the city's computer drawing of the new stadium - looks just like a big city with all the vibrancy, excitement and possibilities! Baseball is meant to be played outdoors. Most games are at night when the sun is low in the sky. Thanks, Bodog, for your experienced input. When folks see downtown St. Petersburg, they'll come early and stay late. Go Rays!

[Brent]

Bodog...
AMEN!!! I completely agree and glad someone has positive thinking about the cities and the Team's future as I do. Everyone else is just miserable and wants to complain about everything.

Go RAYS!!!!

[JB]

LOL@BODOG...I have told everyone these new owners are fleecing this county.. And now they want TAX $$$$ to help pay for this Stupid idea. Put a winner on the field. Last time I looked they are in Last place AGAIN!

These guys are here to take our Money and use it for themselves.

The Rays have a place to play.. Lets move on from this

[Bodog]

@CharlieRay:
You are the typical spoiled (so called) fan who doesn't have a clue of what it is to experience the true understanding of what it is to veiw a Major league baseball game in an uncovered stadium. I too am a season ticket holder and can be found in section 148. Unfortunately the founding fathers of our city didn't have the foresight to see that some day we would have a major league team. Our City's infrastructure isn't condusive to the transit systems that other baseball cities have, IE; New York, Chicago, Boston. I love the Trop as well, however; when an opportunity presents itself such as this new stadium - why not go for it. I think we concentrate to much on how much the other guy is gonna profit to see the benefits the new stadium would bring to our downtown.
I read an article in the newspaper the other day on how people visiting the Pier as well as The Dali Museum have dropped drastically. For six or seven months, we will have people coming to games at the new stadium that probably don't know what our downtown or waterfront looks likes. As it is now, people coming to the game at the trop watch the game and hop on the interstate and leave. A downtown staduim would give those same fans an opportunity to see our waterfront at night, see how vibrant our area is, be able to get a decent meal downtown, visit a local pub. I'm a retired Police officer and I use to work traffic assigments in and around the Trop. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've been ask by people leaving the Trop "Where can I get something to eat nearby - is there a hotel nearby? All of that changes with a downtown stadium, peopl get done watching the game can now walk to an eatery, walk to a pub or bar, walk he waterfront, go to the Pier, visit the Dali after a day game. The people of this city need to stop looking at how the owner of the ball club is gonna benefit and see the long term benefits and exposure a downtown stadium will bring. Stop dwelling on the negatives and concentrate on the positives. Stadiums are built for a certain amount of comfort, if you wanna watch a ball game in A/C stay home, a little walk wouldn't be bad for some of the overweight people I've seen at the game, the bug problem that you folks are alway speaking of isn't that bad, do what the folks at Yankee Stadium, Fenway, and uncovered stadium do - put bug spray on.

[Jesse]

Charlie Ray, everythin gyou said I couldnt have said better!! Im a season ticket holder for 3 years and LOOOVVEE going there for games..Screw sittin outside in 90 degree weather..

[Derek Stefaniak]

I agree that the new stadium being open air is a cause for concern with the rainouts...but baseball is meant to be played outdoors as much as possible. It is just not natural playing it indoors. I am glad the Rays are pushing this open air stadium. The only sport that should be played indoors is obviously hockey.

[CharlieRay]

I can't see any parking lot to park in? I keep looking for the air conditioners and can't find them? All I can see is a leaky Hot tent with heat, moisture, pollen, love bugs, mosquitos, lots of sea gulls, lighting storms and a long drive home after a rain-out after paying for high price parking and having to walk a mile in the elements stated above to my car. I'm sorry I love the Trop and I am spoiled. I support the team and a season ticket holder but if this goes thru I will join the couch potatoes and still support the team