D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

[wang_chi7]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3115966

This is getting out of hand. The stadium is only 18 years old and the team has only used it for 10. Are they just going to say this one is outdated in 2030?

The figures are a bunch of bologna too on economic development. Way too optimistic and likely doesn't subtract what the team already brings in pretending all of it would be new revenue. I'd be surprised if it actually brings in half that, more than likely the city will lose money on the deal with their share of the costs outweighing the money brought it because of the stadium

[Macar91]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

If you've ever been to Tropicana, you know it's a dump. This would be a very good thing for the Rays and I hope it goes through. All of this early-first round talent has to turn into some wins soon, doesn't it? Especially David Price, that guy is the truth.

[chippered]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

If you've ever been to Tropicana, you know it's a dump. This would be a very good thing for the Rays and I hope it goes through. All of this early-first round talent has to turn into some wins soon, doesn't it? Especially David Price, that guy is the truth.

Agreed.

That city should've never gotten a team until they had a new staduim agreement in place. There is no reason for them to still be playing in that crap hole.

[SPTO]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

It's not out of hand, the Trop was only meant to be temporary when the D-Rays first entered the league but the combination of cheap/poor owners and no one going out to see the team has forced them to keep playing in that dump. The current owner is actually trying to do what fans have been wanting for years and that's to get a new park.

I did hear that they may actually put the park in Orlando or somewhere around there though.

[chippered]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

It's not out of hand, the Trop was only meant to be temporary when the D-Rays first entered the league but the combination of cheap/poor owners and no one going out to see the team has forced them to keep playing in that dump. The current owner is actually trying to do what fans have been wanting for years and that's to get a new park.

I did hear that they may actually put the park in Orlando or somewhere around there though.

A nice park would do wonders for that organization. How they thought they were gonna build a foundation starting in that park is beyond me.

[rsox]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

If you've ever been to Tropicana, you know it's a dump. This would be a very good thing for the Rays and I hope it goes through. All of this early-first round talent has to turn into some wins soon, doesn't it? Especially David Price, that guy is the truth.

Agreed. The Rays are never going to get out of Baseball's economic basement playing in that s#!thole stadium of theirs.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3115966
This is getting out of hand. The stadium is only 18 years old and the team has only used it for 10. Are they just going to say this one is outdated in 2030?

The age doesn't matter. The stadium blows arguably more than any other high level professional stadium for any sport in this country. If the new stadium blows too then I could see an argument for building another one. Yes, it would be a huge OOPS but if they thing stinks and nobody wants to watch or play a game there then you need to do something if you want the team to stay.

[rsox]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

The age doesn't matter. The stadium blows arguably more than any other high level professional stadium for any sport in this country. If the new stadium blows too then I could see an argument for building another one. Yes, it would be a huge OOPS but if they thing stinks and nobody wants to watch or play a game there then you need to do something if you want the team to stay.

Exactly. If the Expos could have gotten a new stadium built in Montreal their situation would have become better and we would not have the team in Washington now. Florida may end up losing the Marlins soon over stadium issues as well.

If the players hate the building and the fans hate the building it's time for the building to go.

[Matteh]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

The trop isn't meant for any sport really. I think they just threw it up without any real planning hoping to land a sports team. It's a dump. I think a new stadium would be good for the market and one that's a little closer to Tampa (not that far, but people ***** about the drive) would help also.

[SPTO]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

Didn't the Trop serve as the home for the Lightning for some time. They played in the Thunder Dome so I assume that was Tropicana Field.

[oakfan162]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

Didn't the Trop serve as the home for the Lightning for some time. They played in the Thunder Dome so I assume that was Tropicana Field.

Wow, I can't imagine how a hockey game would look at the Trop. The sound of a shot off the post could echo for hours!

[wang_chi7]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

Well I guess I take it back, I didn't realize it was that much of a dump. St. Petersburg was just very stupid in building it in the first place if it already needs replacing when it was just opened in 1989. It became a huge waste of money fast.

[dust247]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

Wow, I can't imagine how a hockey game would look at the Trop. The sound of a shot off the post could echo for hours!

I guess the Lightning did play in "Orange Juice" Stadium...

The following season saw the Lightning move to the Florida Suncoast Dome (a building originally designed for baseball) in St. Petersburg, which was reconfigured for hockey and renamed "the Thunderdome."

That's via wikipedia, so take it for what it's worth.

Here's a picture I found, that appears to be Trpicanana Field while the Ligtning were playing in it.



As for the Devil Rays possibly getting a new stadium, good for them. It'd be nice to see the Devil Rays give the Orioles and Blue Jays a race for third place in a quality stadium. Obviously, playing in a newer stadium won't make the Devil Rays better on the field, but it should draw interest from free agents (if the owners are willing to spend on money on players).

[rsox]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

If i remember correctly after they built Tropicana Field Didn't local officials use it to try and lure the Giants from San Francisco to St.Petersburg?.

Looks like the Giants made the right choice.

[NYJets]

Re: D-Rays Looking at New Stadium

Lightning played there, and it also hosted the 1999 Final Four in which UConn won their first National Championship upsetting Duke in the finals.