Fallout from last night's public worksession

(WILLIE J. ALLEN JR. | Times)

ST. PETERSBURG --- Both sides are throwing jabs today surrounding last night's stadium forum.

Members of POWW, who declared victory after February's public hearing when about 70 of 100 speakers opposed the Rays' plan, attempted to downplay Thursday's results. About 120 speakers supported the stadium plan Thursday and 95 opposed it (a 56-44 split).

"This is so bogus and unfair," wrote stadium critic Lorraine Margeson. "Count how many FOR CARDS GET DIRECT PAYMENT FROM THE RAYS when you count the cards, folks ... and check for those card addresses."

Margeson followed up that since CONA recommended against the Rays' plan last night, that alone could count for more than 100 "votes," since CONA represents more than a 100 neighborhoods. Pro-stadium group Fans For Waterfront Stadium, meanwhile, submitted a petition of more than 100 business owners supporting the stadium proposal. Those numbers were not included in any tally -- the Times', or ones conducted by City Council members.

The Rays, meanwhile, criticized the statement of one stadium opponent. One speaker said minority team owner Gus Stavros is against the plan. That's not true, Rays officials said. "Just for the record, Gus Stavros is very much for the project," Michael Kalt wrote the Times. "It's outrageous that this guy would just assert that he's stated he's against it."

Team officials also forwarded along its response to the Agency on Bay Management, which recently told City Council members it had many questions related to the environmental plan. You can read that letter here.

It's amazing there is so much interest in the total number of speakers appearing before City Council both in favor, and against the Rays' proposal. It's a guess, but of the 100-or-so people who spoke last night, probably half or more spoke to the council in February. I'd offer we saw more new faces on the "pro" side, and that's likely reflected in the unofficial head count. What any of means...probably nothing -- except that this remains, and seeming will remain, an extremely divisive issue.

The next public hearing before City Council is May 22.

UPDATE (10:08 a.m.) -- Just saw the story about Al Reyes. Maybe I shouldn't have used the word "jab" in my post.

Public debate on Rays' stadium plan: Round 2

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Tampa Bay Rays $450-million stadium plan goes back before the public starting at 6 o'clock tonight when the City Council holds a public forum on the potential redevelopment of Tropicana Field.

Hundreds of people, for and against the project, are expected at City Hall to voice their opinions on the Rays' plans. But the City Council is not expected to make any decisions tonight.

Opponents are urging people to start signing up to speak at 4 p.m. and are e-mailing potential talking points.

Proponents say they plan to present a petition of 100 business owners supporting a November referendum on the stadium and redevelopment proposal.

You can get up to speed on the Tropicana redevelopment proposals here. Otherwise, check back later for updates from tonight's meeting.

UPDATE (5:15 p.m.) -- We're here in City Hall about 45 minutes before tonight's public hearing. Already about 100 people have filed speaker cards in either favor, or opposition of the Rays' plan. About 65 of them are asking to address the council later tonight. For both sides, the event has turned into a mini-election, with everyone attempting to rustle support.

UPDATE (5:55 p.m.) -- Okay, five minutes until show time. The chamber already is full and council members are beginning to take their seat. Council chairman Jamie Bennett is in Washington D.C. tonight, so vice chairman Jeff Danner will be running the show. And for everyone keeping score, Mayor Rick Baker is in the house tonight.

UPDATE (6:20 p.m.) -- We're on our fourth speaker, architect and POWW member Steve Lange, who is reading (as fast as he can) a lot of information about the city's comprehensive plan. We've already heard two threats of a lawsuit and now Lange adds the possibility of recalling City Council members. Lange and others are asking the council not to hold a November referendum on the stadium proposal, saying its a waste of city resources and the Rays would be able to manipulate or dupe would-be voters.

UPDATE (6:50 p.m.) -- The Rays just made their case. President Matt Silverman and vice president Michael Kalt asked City Council members to stay the course and let voters decide on the proposal. So far, I'm calling speakers 12-8 against.

UPDATE (7:20 p.m.) -- I won't get to do this in the paper, but blogging is a different animal. So here goes. My favorite speech of the night goes to Lee Nolan. His best quote: "What is wrong with Tropicana Field? How about the sorriest team in all of professional sports." Ouch, Lee. The Rays won today.

UPDATE (7:45 p.m.) -- Unofficial numbers, but speakers so far are 28-26 against (this doesn't include the 100 business owners who submitted a petition supporting the Rays' proposal). Lorraine Margeson is at the mic, using her three minutes to raise questions about the soil underneath Tropicana Field. The site is the former home of a gas manufacturing plant. City officials say its not a serious issue. Margeson does not agree.

UPDATE (7:48 p.m.) -- Media darling Joan Martin just got her turn. She's the woman with making fashion statements with her "Save the Dome" gear. She again recalled her chance meeting with Richard Simmons at a Tropicana Field event. "Who voted you into the office? Was it the Rays or people like me?"

UPDATE (8:04 p.m.) -- A woman from Bayfront Tower just told the council: "I wouldn't put an addition on my house faster" than the Rays want to push this stadium proposal. An addition on the condo would probably be a tough sell...

UPDATE (8: 20 p.m.) --"I heard Miss Margeson talking to a reporter outside. She said 90 percent of the people in St. Petersburg were agains the Rays plan," said a man representing a union of construction workers. "I'll give you the best poll. Take it to the people of St. Petersburg."

UPDATE (8:30 p.m.) -- "The situation demands a referendum," said former council member Jay Lasita, who is working with one of the bidders to redevelop Tropicana Field. "You should never fear what the outcome of what the vote is going to be. They are the ones that pay the bills."

UPDATE (8:40 p.m.) -- A pro-stadium resident just wrapped up listing some of the positive environmental aspects of the Rays' proposal. In the back of council chambers, Hal Freedman (POWW leader) was cringing.

UPDATE (9:20 p.m.) -- My up to date, unofficial count: 113 for, 86 against.

UPDATE (9:45 p.m.) -- The final unofficial tally, between 115-for and 90 against. Michael Kalt has just declared victory. See you all tomorrow.

UPDATE (9:50 p.m.) -- I wanted to add one more quote before I shut the laptop down for the night. This one is from Hal Freedman, leader of POWW, who told council members his group is NOT against a referendum. Just against one without all the facts being known: "We have no problem with the public voting and in fact welcome it. (But) based on all the unknowns, there is no reason to rush this on the Rays schedule."

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times staff writer

Opener sold out; Floyd sidelined

Update, 6:34: There was some injury news for the Rays, and it wasn't good. DH Cliff Floyd - who had hits in each of his four starts - was scratched from Monday's lineup due to right knee soreness, and replaced by Jonny Gomes.
And INF Ben Zobrist had to have pins inserted in his slow-healing fractured left thumb, delaying his return back at least two more weeks, which means it now is likely to be sometime in May before he is ready to go.

The new lineup is listed below.

The Rays announced at about 4 p.m. that Tuesday's home opener is sold out.
Technically, there were some tickets still available - obstructed view, scattered singles and handicap accessible seating - but the Rays deemed it officially a sellout. Under present configuration, with tarps covering good portions of the upper deck, capacity has been reduced to around 36,000.
That makes three straight seasons the home opener has sold out and - at about 27 hours before game time - the earliest it has happened since the 1998 inaugural opener.

As for Monday night's game, it is very cold here in New York, with the windchill expected to be in the 30s by the end of the night.

The Rays lineup looks like this, with the biggest decision by manager Joe Maddon to play Eric Hinske in rightfield despite poor numbers against Yankees starter Mike Mussina (4-for-29 with 12 strikeouts):

Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Pena, 1b
Upton, cf
Floyd, dh Hinske, rf
Hinske, rf Aybar, 3b
Aybar, 3b Gomes, DH
Difelice, c
Bartlett, ss

What can dome do for you?

ST. PETERSBURG -- While Carlos Pena and the boys are battling it out in Winter Haven this afternoon,  Michael Kalt (at left) and his team will be in City Hall, listening to the City Council talk over the potential options for redeveloping Tropicana Field.

Representatives from all three bidders -- Archstone-Madison, Hines and Williams Quarter -- are expected to be on hand. It's another "no formal action" day, meaning we're unlikely to have any major developments. But we should get a sense of what the City Council's thinking.

The big questions:

* Is there going to be any clarity from Achstone-Madison or Williams Quarter on what they're willing to pay to purchase the 86-acre site? (Only Hines gave an actual figure, $50-million, as part of their bid).

* And, is there enough money available for the Rays to possibly finance a new $450-million stadium, and keep their promise not to ask to raise new taxes or divert existing tax revenues?

The council worksession starts at 2 p.m. Check back then for updates.

UPDATE (2:20 p.m.) -- The work session opened with a brief presentation from city officials on each of the three proposals. Now, Archstone-Madison is taking their turn at the mic. Several members of St. Pete Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront are here, as are a group off Rays executives including Michael Kalt. None of them are expected to speak today. Following the Archstone-Madison presentation, we're scheduled to hear from Hines and then Williams Quarter. City officials are predicting Williams Quarter may increase their development proposal when it gets its chance to speak.

UPDATE ( 2:35 p.m.) -- Archstone-Madison's presentation has come and gone and we still don't understand how much they're offering to purchase Tropicana Field. Archstone vice president Daryl South said there is not sufficient initial land value at the 86-acre Tropicana Field site to support a simple, up front cash payment. So instead, developers are proposing a public-private partnership where the city would received at least $1-million a year in rent, and possibly $2-million a year, as well as some share of the developer's profits for redeveloping the site. Hines, the developer the Rays have been working with, is on the clock.

UPDATE (2:37 p.m.) -- Hines exec. Michael Harrison: "You don't find these opportunities very often in the U.S. anymore."

UPDATE (2:50 p.m.) -- Williams Quarter executives aren't pulling any punches during their presentation. They say the demand for retail Hines and Archstone-Madison (Williams Quarter called them "out of town friends") are talking about, is not verifiable. What is, however, is the need for workforce housing, they say. The Williams Quarter proposes 4,000 for-rent units.

UPDATE (2:57 p.m.) -- Bidding war? Williams Quarter just dropped the biggest bombshell of the afternoon. They're willing to pay $61-million for the Trop. What say you Hines? Time for council questions.

Three bids on Trop

The city has posted all the proposals here.

UPDATE (11 a.m.)  -- Kitty just asked if Tropicana Field will be demolished or sold before a potential November referendum on the Rays' stadium plan. The answer is no. The city has made it clear to developers that the sale of the land will NOT happen, unless the Rays' stadium proposal is approved by voters in November. If anyone else has questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them.

UPDATE (10:55 a.m.) -- It will be a few hours, the city says, before we know more about the three bids. City officials are just now beginning to sort through the 1/2-inch thick documents. The city says it hopes to make summaries of each bid available this afternoon, and the whole document available by the end of the day.

Here's what we know about the three developers:

Hines --- The group the Tampa Bay Rays have been working with, Hines' bid was all but assured months ago. They're calling their proposal WestEnd St. Pete. The publicly known concept includes 1-million square feet of retail space (the size approx. of International Plaza) and about 900 homes.

Archstone-Madison -- A partnership between Archstone Smith and Madison Marquetee, two D.C.-area companies. We told you on Sunday they may be a likely bidder. Their project is called EcoVerde.

Williams Quater -- The company we know the least about. In fact, we couldn't find them in a quick Google search. But they are partnering with DeBartolo Holdings, a Tampa company known for retail developments.

City officials say all of the bids were received this morning. Both city and Rays officials sounded pleased with the response from the development community. We'll update this post later when we know more about the bids.

UPDATE (10:18 a.m.) -- Three bids: Williams Quarter (teaming with DeBartolo Holdings and other developers); Archstone-Madison; Hines.

UPDATE (10:16 a.m.) -- City economic development director Dave Goodwin just walked in. He's carrying three packets of information. Looks like three bids.

UPDATE (10:12 a.m.) --- Rays officials Michael Kalt, Melanie Lenz and Robbie Artz just walked in. We're still waiting on the city.

ST. PETERSBURG -- We're here on the eighth floor of the city's downtown Municipal Services Building, waiting for city officials to unveil the bids for the possible redevelopment of Tropicana Field. It's mainly an affair for the media, though former City Council member Kathleen Ford is seated in the back row. (Ford, you might remember, argued earlier this month that the bidding process should be stopped because she believed the developer the Tampa Bay Rays are working with, Hines, had an unfair advantage.)

It's hard to know what to expect. Quietly, city officials are hoping for three bids to redevelop the 86-acre site. To put that in some perspective, a 110-acre Washington D.C. site drew seven initial bids last fall.

What'll be more interesting is the price that developers are offering. The money generated by the possible redevelopment is critical to the Rays' $450-million stadium proposal. We should have some information within the half hour. Details of the proposal, however, may not be available until this afternoon, city officials say.

Complete coverage: Ballpark by the bay

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Trop a UFO?

Tropicana Field has been called a lot of things, but Rays exec Michael Kalt, the point man for the new stadium, took it to a new page in the dictionary with this quote from a John Donovan piece on si.com:

"Part of the reason that baseball hasn't been very successful here in Florida ... really comes down to the venues [do] nothing to highlight that feeling that this is baseball, in Florida," he says. "I mean, they stuck us in a UFO and [the Marlins] in a football stadium."

Rays: 14,000 spaces available for most games

UPDATE (7:55 p.m.) -- Here, again, is the link to Tampa Bay Rays' parking and traffic analysis. And here is the link to the additional details on the stadium design. Both documents also are available at the Rays' web site, www.majorleaguedowntown.com. Click on the tab "Press."

UPDATE (4:10 p.m.) -- On the question of the Rays kicking people out of parking spaces, I asked that question to the traffic consultant, and they said their estimates only include unused or available spaces during the times when baseball games would be played. How'd they do that? They actually observed the lots and garages during February (a busier time of year, they say) to see what spaces are and are not being used. Enjoy the debate.

UPDATE (4:05 p.m.) -- The study includes an interesting graphic that, for the most part, is unrelated to either parking or traffic. It details where Rays' season ticket holders live. Forty-six percent of season ticket holders, almost half, live outside Pinellas County, and less than 30 percent live in St. Petersburg.

UPDATE (3:50 p.m.) -- The critical assumption of the parking analysis is that 19 private lots open their doors for baseball (The analysis does not include smaller lots or church lots that may want to get in the baseball parking business). The consultant suggests they'll have a financial incentive to do so. The lots are: St. Petersburg College Center; Wachovia Bank parking lot; Progress Energy building garage; Christ United Methodist Church lot; Muncipal Services Center garage; BB&T Building garage; SunTrust Building garage; St. Mary's Church lot; St. Petersburg Times lots; Synovus Bank lot; Municpal Lot 68; State Office Building lot, Mirror Lake; Pinellas County Courthouse garage; 501 Building garage; Courthouse Square lots; A.G. Edwards & Sons lots; Bayfront Medical West garage and Heart Center garage; All Children's Hospital South garages; USF-St. Petersburg lots. The Rays have or will have letters of interest from three of the largest parking providers, USF-St. Pete, Bayfront and All Children's.

UPDATE (3:25 p.m.) -- Aside from where people will park, much of the study discusses the traffic the extra cars will bring downtown. The highly technical analysis can be hard to understand, but the consultant in charge of the study, David Wallace, just said in an interview with the Times that St. Petersburg's grid and insterstate system makes the Rays' proposal possible.

UPDATE (2:40 p.m.) -- So, here'e what we're talking about. You can see the orange rings coming out from the proposed stadiun. Inside the first ring is a 5-10 minute walk, according to the consultant. Inside ring 2 is 10-15 minutes, and inside the third ring is up to a 25-minute walk. When all added up, the Rays say there will be 10,700 spaces within the third ring available for baseball fans on weekday nights. The number increases slightly for weekend games.

UPDATE: (2:30 p.m.) -- The study presents a science that is, at times, difficult to follow. The consultant, at one point, starts with a total of 17,000 off-street parking spaces within 3/4 a mile of Al Lang Field (5,000 within 1/4 mile, another 6,000 between 1/4 and 1/2 mile, and 6,000 between 1/2 and 3/4 miles). But the study eliminates 20 percent of the farthest away spaces because they would be less desirable. It also factors in a retail tenant occupying space, and therefore parking spaces, in the city's Southcore Garage. It makes assumptions that smaller parking lots will be less used, and bigger lots will be completely full. There's a great image that we're working to post that will detail what spaces the consultant's talking about.

UPDATE (2:15 p.m.) -- Because they're relying on the parking spaces of private businesses to make their numbers work, the Rays' consultants say only 6,800 spaces may be available when the Rays play a weekday afternoon game (Rays estimate 4-6 times a year). The Rays already run "camp" days for student groups on weekday, day games and could continue to do so in the new ballpark.

UPDATE (2 p.m.) -- Part of the parking plan calls for "pre-selling" up to 4,000 spaces to fans, based on zip codes. Fans coming from the south would park in southern spaces. Fans from the north would park in the north. The consultant suggests this strategy has worked in urban ballparks in Pittsburgh and San Diego. It's unclear if this would be for each individual game or only season ticket holders.

UPDATE (1:45 p.m.) -- We're just starting through these documents, but a couple of points stand out based on what we've seen so far. The Rays are assuming, using 2005 parking and tickets sales, a rate of 2.9 people per car. In that scenario, the team believes it only needs around 12,000 spots. The "available" spaces are within 3/4 a mile of the proposed new stadium and inlcude 2,000 spaces at Tropicana Field. The analysis assumes those spaces will only be used for near-sellout games and ticket holders would use a shuttle to reach the field.

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Tampa Bay Rays are releasing today  details of a parking and traffic management study that suggest there are nearly 14,000 parking spaces available for baseball games if a new stadium was built at Al Lang Field.

The number of spaces available does not include another 7,000 on-street parking spaces that would be available to downtown businesses and residents.

The study, performed by national consultant Rumme, Klepper & Kahl, found several companies willing to work with the Rays to find parking solutions -- including All Children's Hospital, Bayfront Medical Center and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

"Ensuring convenient access and adequate parking for the ballpark and other downtown attractions is critical to the success of downtown St. Petersburg and the Rays," Rays senior vice president Michael Kalt said in a release issued around noon Tuesday. "The Rays are committed to on-going coordination with the City of St. Petersburg, downtown residents, and institutions to minimize the traffic and parking impacts of the new ballpark and to attract new visitors to the downtown, its businesses, and its waterfront amenities."

We're starting to analyze the results of the study in more detail. You can see it for yourself here. But the release also says that of 32 "key intersections analyzed in the downtown area, only one minor physical intersection improvement would be needed to accommodate the flow of inbound and outbound traffic before and after baseball games."

The Rays also Tuesday submitted preliminary design details for the proposed 34,000 seat stadium to the city. Concepts highlighted include:

* Ballpark roof and façade design;
* The relationship of the proposed ballpark to the surrounding community;
* Potential public amenities;
* Streetscape improvement ideas;
* And sustainability goals.

You can review that document here. 

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Rays stadium: Let the debate begin

Chief security officer Ron Whitaker, center, explains to people waiting to sign up for tonight's hearing the procedure for handling the expected overflow crowd. [Lara Cerri | Times]

ST. PETERSBURG - I'm here in City Hall, more than 3½ hours before the public hearing on the Tampa Bay Rays' stadium and redevelopment proposal begins at 6:30 p.m., and already people are lining up for their turn to speak.

It kind of has the atmosphere of a big-time college basketball game –- without the pep bands or cheerleaders. Proponents of the Rays' plan, mainly from the group Fans For Waterfront Stadium, are expected to be wearing white. Opponents, those associated with the group Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront, will be dressed in red.

There's not a lot at stake tonight. Though perhaps 200 residents and business owners are expected to sound off on the Rays' proposal, the eight-member City Council will not make any decisions. Instead, they'll simply listen, and then (eventually) go home.

Here's a link to the story in today's newspaper advancing the meeting. Here's a good primer on the Rays' plan if you're new to all of this.

I'll check in later this afternoon with an update and then be blogging live starting at 6:30 p.m. I plan to answer some questions as well if you leave them in the comments field.

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Rays turning back the clock, and other promotions

The second day of full-squad workouts is the first day of live batting practice, which should make for some interesting action on the field. The team has been busyt off the field, too.
In advance of Saturday's launch of individual game ticket sales at the annual FanFest, the Rays released a promotional schedule Thursday that includes promotions for all Friday, Saturday and Sunday home games (42 of the 81 in all) as well as as what should be a colorful '80s night on June 21 against Houston, with the Astros wearing their rainbow-striped uniforms and the Rays donning uniforms of the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the short-lived senior league.
Among the more interesting promotions are another cowbell night on April 25 against Boston, a "disco wig" for '70s night against Baltimore on May 24, a Rays army hat for Heroes night July 5 against Kansas City, a Rays LED flashlight key chain on July 19 vs. Toronto, a B.J. Upton figurine as part of African-American Celebration night Aug. 2 vs. Detroit and a James Shields figurine on Aug. 30 vs. Baltimore.
The Rays will continue their all-inclusive themes, with a Tampa Bay night, wrestling night, international night, '70s night, country night, a Festival Latino, '80s night, a St. Petersburg night, a '90s night, and a sci-fi night.
There will be giveaways for kids at all Sunday games, including Akinori Iwamura wristbands (April 20), a Scott Kazmir strikeout swirler (April 27), a Carlos Pena Silver Slugger wiffle ball bat (May 11) and a Carl Crawford jersey T-shirt (June15).
The team will also offer $1 hot dogs on Friday nights, except for the April 25 game against Boston.

FanFest autograph schedule

The Rays released the following autograph schedule (subejct to change) for Saturday's FanFest at Tropicana Field, which runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with free parking and admission.

Here is the schedule as of Wednesday night:

9-10 a.m. (season-ticket holders only): Gary Gaetti (Triple-A coach), Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis
11-noon: James Shields, Matt Garza, Gary Glover, Juan Salas, Mitch Talbott, Scott Dohmann, Jae-Kuk Ryu
Noon-1: Senior advisor Don Zimmer, Scott Kazmir, Troy Percival, David Price, Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, Andy Sonnanstine, Trever Miller, J.P. Howell, Grant Balfour, Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler
1-2: B.J. Upton, Akinori Iwamura, Rocco Baldelli, Ben Zobrist, Justin Ruggiano, Kurt Birkins, Andy Cannizaro, Reid Brignac, Scott Munter, Eric Hinske, Matt Spring, Chris Richard
2-3: Carlos Pena, Cliff Floyd, Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett, Calvin Medlock, John Rodriguez, James Houser, Jon Weber, Chad Orvella, Brian Anderson, Fernando Perez, Eliot Johnson
3-4: Carl Crawford, Jonny Gomes, Joel Guzman, Dioner Navarro, Willy Aybar, Chris Mason, Hector Gimenez, Mike Difelice, John Jaso, Josh Paul, Shawn Riggans
4-5: Manager Joe Maddon, coaches Tom Foley, Bobby Ramos, George Hendrick, Tim Bogar, Dave Martinez, Jim Hickey, Steve Henderson

Also:

10-2: Jim Morris, former Ray and subect of the movie The Rookie.
10-11: Former major leaguers Billy DeMars, Milt May, Jim Morrison, Tom Niedenfuer, Dennis Rasmussen, Tom Tresh
1-2: Former major leaguers Carl Boles, Rich Folkers, Dick Lines, Dennis Menke, Mark Whiten
2-3: Former major leaguers Bill Denehy, Ken Frailing, John O'Donoghue, Gary Peters
3-4: Former major leaguers Casey Cox, Darold Knowles, Jeff Torborg

Emcee wanted ...

Continuing our series of classified ads for the Rays, the team said today it is looking for an emcee.

Rusty Kath, who handled the duties last season and turned it into a spotlight role, will be back but on a limited schedule, so technically, the Rays are looking for a "co-host" to split the duties.

Here are the details, from the team release:
Talented hopefuls should submit a demo reel, photo and resume to Tropicana Field between January 31^st and February 14^th.  Ten finalists will be invited to a live audition held at Tropicana Field on February 21^st (invitation only). Applicants will be judged on personality, baseball knowledge and public speaking skills.
Those interested should submit their DVD demo reel, photo and resume to:
Tampa Bay Rays, Attention: MC Auditions
1 Tropicana Drive
St. Petersburg FL 33705

Interested candidates may call (727) 825-3151 for more information.

Rays want you to get crazy

The Rays are holding open casting calls this week for members of the Ray Team.

What does that mean? Well, those are the people who run, jump, dance and launch T-shirts around the stadium during games, trying to get fans excited.

So what do you have to do to be one of them?

Here's what the Rays say they are looking for, and we note their optimism in the last two words:
The Rays are seeking energetic, outgoing individuals who not only possess a winning personality, but also enjoy performing their various talents (i.e. dancing, cheering, tumbling, singing and public speaking) in front of a large crowd.

If you are interested, the auditions are Thursday and Friday night, 6-9 p.m., at the Trop.

Here are the specifics from the Rays release:

• Applicants may attend one session only.

• Applicants wishing to demonstrate their dance skills are encouraged to bring a music track on a CD with a length of no more than one minute.

• Registrations will begin at 6 p.m. and interviews will start at 6:30 p.m.

• Casting call sessions will end at 9 p.m.

• Registration will take place inside Gate 4 on the east side of Tropicana Field.

• Applicants are encouraged to park in Lot 1 of Tropicana Field (16th St. and 4th Ave. South).

Applicants needing more information may call (727) 825-3151.

They're going to Disney World - again

The Rays on Friday announced plans to shift an April 22-24 series against Toronto from Tropicana Field to Disney.
The Rays played a three-game series at Disney last May in an effort to expand their market and considered the experiment a success despite small crowds - an average of 8,972.
"We were very pleased with every aspect of last year's series at the Disney Sports Complex, particularly the experience we were able to provide for fans who were attending their first Rays games,'' team president Matt Silverman said. "This series remains a very important part of our ongoing efforts to expand our fan base throughout the state and further establish St. Petersburg as Florida's baseball capital.''
Under terms of their lease, the Rays need permission from the St. Petersburg City Council to play regular-season games elsewhere but Tropicana Field. A vote is scheduled for Jan. 24. MLB and Jays officials have already said they were okay with the new plan.

Questions remain in dazzling proposal

Why are the Rays doing this?

Because they want to. The Rays could stay at Tropicana Field, but say they are making this pitch because they see the opportunity to not only get a new stadium but to help transform downtown as well.

What if this stadium deal falls through?

From what the Rays say, things would be pretty much status quo. They’d keep playing at Tropicana Field – they have a lease through 2027 – and probably try again for a new stadium at a later date. But it would remain to be seen how long Stuart Sternberg would want to own the team in that situation.

What would the new stadium be called?

It depends who wants to pay for it, because the naming rights will be available for purchase. According to the Rays, Tropicana’s naming rights are specific to the current stadium, so presumably they would get a refund. There is talk of preserving the history and tradition of the site by including a reference to Al Lang – in either the stadium name or the “cove” behind the rightfield wall – to preserve the tradition.

What’s with the design?

Rather than a brick-based  retro look that has been all the rage, the Rays are looking to the future with what principal owner Stuart Sternberg termed a “more sweeping, open, inviting” design. And without a brick in it.

What’s the tall pole all about?

That’s a 320-foot mast that anchors the roof and is part of what the Rays consider an "iconic" design.

What are the specifics?

The stadium would hold 34,000 fans (most in the lower deck) and would be open air with a cable supported, sail-like covering that a team official described as "a glorified umbrella." The field would have standard dimensions. Balls hit over the rightfield wall would splash into the bay.

Isn’t it going to be hot and sweaty?

Of course, it’s Florida in the summer time. But the Rays say it will be reasonably comfortable – more so than Atlanta, on par with St. Louis or Kansas City – for several reasons: the roof, which will be deployed during the day to keep heat from building up; the breezes off Tampa Bay; and cooling devices such as fans or misters.

What about rain and lighting?

The sail-like cover can be deployed in about eight minutes, and the Rays say it would provide enough covering to prevent postponements and delays expect in the most severe storms.

What about parking?

It may be a problem, especially at first. Like Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston, there will be very little parking at the site. The Rays say there are currently are about 12,000 spots within a short walk of the stadium, and there may be more when it opens. Fans would have to get used to walking or taking shuttles.

Is there really enough room for a stadium on that site?

It’s going to be tight, but by reorienting the field – so rightfield abuts the water – and extending Bayshore Drive into the bay it can fit with standard dimensions. To make it work, there would be no seats from the rightfield foul pole across to left-centerfield.

Would players like it?

The heat would certainly have an effect on the players, as it does in Texas and Miami, though they might enjoy being outside. The Rays would likely play as many games at night as they could.

Would there be more than Rays games there?

Probably. The stadium could accommodate a football field, which could lead to a college bowl game, and could be the site of concerts and other events.

How can the Rays sell the Tropicana site even though they don’t own it?

They can’t. The team would need the city and Pinellas County to agree.

What about the debt the city and county still have outstanding on Tropicana Field?

The Rays said what to do about the debt remains a question.

Do the Rays have a developer in mind for the Tropicana site?

Yes. The Rays are working with Hines Interests of Houston. But because the land is publicly owned, the city would have to issue a request for proposals from developers. A developer other than Hines could be awarded the site.

What retail options are coming to the Tropicana site?

The Rays won’t say. But they do at least have one specific major outdoors retailer in mind.

Where’s the money coming from for the new stadium?

The biggest chunk, the Rays say, would come from the sale of Tropicana Field and adjacent parking lots to a private developer. The Rays say that transaction could raise between $250-$300-million toward the new stadium. But that includes property tax revenues generated by the redeveloped Trop site.

What are the Rays contributing?

The team said it is prepared to increase its rent payments from about $1-million a year to $10-million a year. The money, which will be paid to the city, would then help pay for construction of the new ballpark.

Is the team seeking money from the state?

Yes. The Rays say the money, $60-million paid out over 30 years, is important but not a deal breaker.

Who’s on the hook if the stadium goes over its $450-million budget?

The Rays say they will cover cost overruns.

– Marc Topkin and Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writers

Rays unveil dramatic ballpark vision

ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon revealed a bold plan for a new waterfront baseball stadium at one end of a dramatically transformed St. Petersburg downtown.

The Rays’ plans call for a $450-million, open-air, 34,000-seat stadium to open in 2012 at the current site of Al Lang Field. On the other end of downtown at Tropicana Field, the team proposes a massive retail and residential development.

"We’re talking about a major-league downtown," Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said during a meeting with the St. Petersburg Times editorial board, where he previewed the concept.

"My goodness, it's beautiful," said Gov. Charlie Crist, after a rendering of the stadium was unveiled.

The break in the team’s silence comes after nearly three weeks of speculation. Rays officials said they spent 1 1/2 years working on the plan, which was first reported Nov. 9 by the St. Petersburg Times’ Web site, www.tampabay.com.

The team formally unveiled its plans at a 2:15 p.m. announcement that included Crist, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy.

Several significant questions remain about financing, parking and the Florida heat.
Rays officials insist the project will not require new tax money. But the plan does call for $60-million in state tax money and property tax revenue from the redeveloped Tropicana Field site, as well as proceeds from the sale of that land.
The team says it believes it can stay within its $450-million stadium budget and, if not, would be responsible for any cost overruns.

"No new taxes," Sternberg said.

The stadium would require approval of St. Petersburg voters, because it involves a long-term lease of waterfront property. The team is asking for a November 2008 city referendum.

The stadium would include a sail-like cover, anchored to a 320-foot-tall mast, that could be used when it rains. It would be constructed in a way to maximize views of the waterfront and the city skyline in what Sternberg termed a "sweeping, open, inviting" design.

"We want to create something iconic … that will become the postcard shot of St. Pete," Rays vice president Michael Kalt said.

The Rays plan for the stadium to open for the 2012 season, which would allow the team to play host to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game within a few years. The team believes the stadium would become a destination, with fans spending hours before and after games in the area.

"We have the ability to make such an impact on the community, and we embrace our responsibility," said Rays president Matt Silverman.

Among the key points to the project:

Tropicana redevelopment

The Rays are working with one of the world’s largest private real estate developers to turn Tropicana Field and its adjacent parking lots into a mixed-use development worth up to $700-million.

Hines Interests in Houston has developed a plan to turn the 85-acre Trop site into a sprawling retail and residential community, anchored by a major outdoor merchandise chain. Rays officials declined to name the retailer.

The development would include 900 residential units and 1-million square feet of retail space, team officials said. Fourteen new acres of public parks would be created and centered around an enhanced Booker Creek.

If the Rays keep to their timetable, work on the site would begin in 2009, and a first phase would be complete by 2011.

"It’s a blank canvas for a developer," said Rays president Matt Silverman.

Combined with a new stadium on the waterfront, team officials said the development could finally push the growth of downtown beyond the waterfront while fulfilling the promise of economic development that never materialized at the Tropicana site.

In order for any of it to happen, though, the city first would have to request proposals for the site from developers — a requirement because the land is publicly owned.

The city would get to set the ground rules — how many residential units, how much retail — but the developers would set the asking price.

Rays officials said Hines is interested in developing the site, but recognize that other developers would be, too. Kalt said the team would ask the city to begin the development process within months.

Financing

Sternberg pledged that the stadium would be built with no new city taxes. The money, $450-million, largely would come from the Rays and the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site.

The cost includes a contingency, Kalt said, as well as money for improvements to a park to the north of the stadium. Any cost overruns would be the team’s responsibility, Kalt said.

Here’s how the financing would work:

The Rays, who now pay about $1-million a year in rent to the city, would increase their yearly payments to close to $10-million. The city would then issue bonds, with the rent as the pledged revenue, to pay approximately $150-million of the construction costs.

The Rays also would benefit from the sale and redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site. The team said the site could be worth between $250-million and $300-million to the Rays. Part of that money would come from the future property taxes created by the Tropicana redevelopment. Called tax increment financing, the program funnels city and county property taxes toward downtown capital projects.

The tax program has been in place in downtown St. Petersburg since 1982 and runs through 2035.

The two revenue streams, Kalt said, are "sufficient to form a financing plan."

Sternberg said the team also would pursue $60-million in state funding in the form of a sales tax subsidy.

"It is a significant amount of money that would cause us to make changes in our design" if the legislature rejects the funding, Sternberg said. But, "it wouldn’t be a show stopper."

Weather issues

Though the stadium would be open air, a sail-like roof that could be deployed in about eight minutes would provide cover in the event of rain, resulting in postponements or delays only in extreme conditions.

The Rays would play mostly night games in the stadium and would plan to keep the cover on during the afternoons to keep the temperature in the seating area down. Fans or misters would provide cooling, and some stadium areas — possibly the concourses — would be air-conditioned.

Team officials said with that technology and the breeze coming off Tampa Bay, the stadium would be relatively comfortable even without full air conditioning. The team has hired a climatologist who estimates it would be about 4 degrees cooler than the average temperature for a game in Atlanta, and on par with summer conditions in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Stadium design

Rather than the retro look that has been popularized in Baltimore, Cleveland, Arlington, Texas, and San Diego, the proposed stadium would have an open, modernistic “21st century design” without a brick in the building.

Though the 34,000-seat stadium would be a snug fit when oriented on the Al Lang site, the field dimensions will not be compromised, with somewhat standard measurements, including 320 feet down the rightfield line, with balls that go over the wall and splash into the water.

The roof would be attached to the top of the stadium and anchored to a 320-foot mast in left-centerfield. The cables for the roof would be strung permanently over the playing field but high enough that they would only come into play in the most extreme circumstances. (Architects said the same thing about the catwalks at Tropicana Field, but they are hit regularly.)

"Essentially it’s a glorified umbrella," Kalt said.

"I like to think of it as a convertible top," Silverman said.

The seating areas would be constructed to maximize views of the water and St. Petersburg’s skyline, with what would be the smallest upper deck seating area (about 10,000 seats) in Major League Baseball. There would be no seats from the rightfield foul pole across to left-centerfield.

Although the stadium will be designed for baseball, it will be able to accommodate other events, including football, which could lead to a college football bowl game.
To accommodate the stadium, the Rays say they would need to fill in a small area of the waterfront to shift a section of Bayshore Drive east. The road would be closed to vehicles on game days.

At today's announcement, Rays' first-baseman Carlos Pena hit balls from what would be the spot of home plate in the new ballpark. After several attempts, he hit a ball into the Tampa Bay.

Parking

There would be minimal parking on the site, provided by a small garage. The Rays say there are enough existing spots in lots and garages in the area. They say there are 12,000 spots within a 15-minute walk of the stadium and that many could be used for game parking, that more could be available, and there will also be parking at the Tropicana Field site, with some type of shuttle service.

-- By Aaron Sharockman and Marc Topkin, Times staff writers

Rays' new stadium plans

The Rays will unveil their plans for a new downtown waterfront ballpark at 2:15 today. Check back here for details, including artist renderings.

Voters: Don't ask us to pay for new stadium

ST. PETERSBURG – City voters are open to the idea of a new downtown waterfront baseball stadium – depending on who’s paying for it, according to a new St. Petersburg Times poll.

Fifty-seven percent of city voters surveyed said they would favor plans to build a new ballpark if no city tax dollars were used.

If city tax dollars were part of the equation, 69 percent said they would oppose the plan. In voters' minds, the financing of the $450-million Tampa Bay Rays stadium is the biggest road block. Not parking. Not the heat.

The telephone survey of 616 city voters was conducted Monday and Tuesday and includes a four percent margin of error.

Respondents were split on whether money from the sale of Tropicana Field should be used to build a new stadium.

They were, however, more likely to favor the Rays' plan if Tropicana was converted into a large mixed-use development that paid local property and state sales taxes.

The results are a good first step for team executives, who have not discussed their plans to build a new stadium at Al Lang Field since the Times’ website www.tampabay.com broke the story Nov. 9.

The Rays would pay up to a third of the cost to build a new 35,0000-seat open air stadium.

The team also could use money from the sale of Tropicana Field and property taxes generated by the redevelopment of the site to offset construction costs.
The Rays said today that Gov. Charlie Crist, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy will be on hand Nov. 28 for an official announcement.

The Rays say they intend to “announce details and renderings of a new waterfront ballpark and redevelopment of Tropicana Field.’’

People who attended more than six Rays games largely supported a new stadium, even if city tax dollars were part of the equation.

Complete coverage of the waterfront park plan

-- by Aaron Sharockman, Times staff writer

ST. PETERSBURG – City voters are open to the idea of a new downtown waterfront baseball stadium – depending on who’s paying for it, according to a new St. Petersburg Times poll.

Fifty-seven percent of city voters surveyed said they would favor plans to build a new ballpark if no city tax dollars were used.

If city tax dollars were part of the equation, 69 percent said they would oppose the plan. In voters' minds, the financing of the $450-million Tampa Bay Rays stadium is the biggest road block. Not parking. Not the heat.

The telephone survey of 616 city voters was conducted Monday and Tuesday and includes a four percent margin of error.

Respondents were split on whether money from the sale of Tropicana Field should be used to build a new stadium.

They were, however, more likely to favor the Rays' plan if Tropicana was converted into a large mixed-use development that paid local property and state sales taxes.

The results are a good first step for team executives, who have not discussed their plans to build a new stadium at Al Lang Field since the Times’ website www.tampabay.com broke the story Nov. 9.

The Rays would pay up to a third of the cost to build a new 35,0000-seat open air stadium.

The team also could use money from the sale of Tropicana Field and property taxes generated by the redevelopment of the site to offset construction costs.
The Rays said today that Gov. Charlie Crist, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy will be on hand Nov. 28 for an official announcement.

The Rays say they intend to “announce details and renderings of a new waterfront ballpark and redevelopment of Tropicana Field.’’

People who attended more than six Rays games largely supported a new stadium, even if city tax dollars were part of the equation.

Complete coverage of the waterfront park plan

-- by Aaron Sharockman, Times staff writer

Where should the Rays play?

What do you think about the Rays' plans? Vote in our poll:

 

Stadium shopping
Where should the Rays play baseball?
Indoors at the Trop
On the St. Petersburg waterfront
Closer to Tampa, likeToytown or Derby Lane
Orlando

Trop's time running short?

Comments made by Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg in a New York Times story published today raised questions about the future of the Rays at Tropicana Field. Although he made no threats to move the team or suggestions for a new stadium, Sternberg said,“We recognize (the Trop) has a shelf life of five years.”

"How do we make the best of this thing?'' Sternberg said in the article, which appeared one week before the Rays are scheduled to play three games against the Texas Rangers at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. "It wasn't built to last 30 to 40 years'

Sternberg added, "Baseball does not feel right indoors.''

Check out the story here, and tell us what you think:

Home opener festivities under way

ST. PETERSBURG -– The 10th Devil Rays opening day started Friday much like the first in 1998.
Lots of excitement. Measured expectations.

Yes, there’s a new flower garden, fresh paint and a bigger rightfield video scoreboard.
“But they should have spent that money on a relief pitcher,” said an almost grumpy Al Willis, picking up his season tickets.

The Rays new owners oozed goodwill last year offering perks like free parking. But that charm has now dulled under the intense pressure of the win column.

A sellout crowd of more than 38,000 was expected Friday. Thousands of fans had already made their way to Tropicana Field hours before the 7 p.m. game. Some fired up their grills and tapped a beer keg. Some searched for extra tickets. One group from Valrico painted their chests --- G-O-D-E-V-I-L-R-A-Y-S-!-!-!

“Anything can happen,” said Kevin Hug, a middle school geography teacher who took the day off to get ready for the game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Hug, a converted Chicago Cubs fans, knows a thing or two about being patient. The Cubs haven’t one a World Series since 1908. So to Hug, the Rays 9-year drought seems almost trite.

-- AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writer

For openers...

A quick glance at Friday's home-opener in St. Petersburg:

• 3:30 — Tropicana Field parking lots open for tailgating.
• 4:10 — Gates open; Rays players will greet fans at rotunda and Gate 4.
• 4:40-5:40 — Rays batting practice.
• 5:30 — Major-league alumni, including Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, Tom Tresh, Jeff Torborg, Ron LeFlore, Tom Niedenfuer and Floyd Youmans signing free autographs on Centerfield Street; live music from Freight Train Annie.
• 5:40-6:30 — Jays batting practice.
• 6:46 — Introductions of both teams by new public-address announcer Dave Pygman.
• 6:55 — Moment of silence for former commissioner Bowie Kuhn.
• 6:56 — National anthem by Daniel Rodriguez, former New York City cop known as the Singing Policeman. Colors presented by U.S. Special Operations Command Joint Service Honor Guard from MacDill Air Force Base.
• 7 — Ceremonial first pitch by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who grew up in St. Petersburg. Caught by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker.
• 7:10 — First pitch by James Shields.

Parking: Free in some stadium lots; paid parking available in city lots. Free Looper trolley will operate from downtown lots to stadium. Interstate 375 remains closed.

Giveaways: All fans get a scratch-off card that guarantees a prize (from resort stays to iced coffees), Checkers thermal mug, Rays schedule magnet.

Also: Live broadcasts by 11 radio stations. … Debut of new Tropicana Field video- and scoreboards, FieldTurf, tbt* Party Deck (replacing the Beach). … Completion of landscaping project outside Tropicana Field. … Opening of expanded Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame, and renovated team store.

-- Marc Topkin, Times staff writer