Quote:
Originally Posted by BishopMVP
At a certain point you have to stop going after "Rays" fans and go after baseball fans. Anyone who goes to the current out of the way monstrosity will keep going when it's downtown on the waterfront, and you'll attract a lot more casual fans. Maybe there are better options in downtown Tampa, but I never went to that area, and we can at least agree the stadium should be on the water (maybe with a retractable roof if necessary) in an area with restarurants etc surrounding it. It's no surprise casual fans don't want to travel 10 miles inland and spend their time in a concrete dome.
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I think you have the right idea, but the demographics here suggest the opposite. Most of the Rays fans live inland and most of the "2nd home/tourist/retirees" Yankee/RedSox fans live near the water in St. Pete.
The Channelside district where the Tampa Bay Lightning play seems the best (with 30 minute commutes for more fans) and an opportunity for workers to go to the game after work. It's on the water and near restaraunts...but it's in Tampa and St. Pete has a 25 year lease on the Rays...and that's an hour or longer commute through two cities for the much larger Rays fan base.
With the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway now interconnected with the I-4 right at the Port of Tampa/Channelside district...it's an almost perfect location for a new stadium.