Rays play may save stadium vote
Posted: Sunday May 18, 2008 10:01AM ET
There are plenty of skeptics about the Rays' latest attempt to escape Tropicana Field, thinking the proposal to spend $450 million upgrading Al Lang Field on the waterfront won't get voters' approval. But the timing is such that it could be on the ballot as early as November, when fans still could be feeling good about a strong finish from the perennial doormats. That's the formula that led Seattle voters to approve the 1995 stadium deal that got the Mariners into Safeco Field just as they were about to become obsolete at the Kingdome.
Gabe Gross, AP
Comments (11)
Gosh, let this be true. The Rays have a real team now. They need a real stadium. Tropicana looks like a mausoleum. It's hard to fathom a team in Tampa playing in a dome.
Tell it like it is | 05/18/08, 10:32 AM
Report Offensive CommentIf the stadium is truely a good investment, then let the Rays owner pay for it. Why should the taxpayers of Tampa foot the bill for a billionaire and team that's been horribly managed from day one? Ten straight years of 90 losses, the owner owes this city something....because he certainly hasn't provided a competitive team until this year.
baseballpurist | 05/18/08, 01:39 PM
Report Offensive Commentthis team needs a domed stadium in tampa not st pete ever been outside in south fla in summer
golfwacko | 05/18/08, 03:39 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe dome is nice. It is way hot and humid in the Summer. A new clear, retractable dome someday would be nice.
The Tropicana Dome is a pretty good stadium IMO. But if the people want a new, money generating stadium, then I am fine with that too. The St. Pete waterfront would be a great location.
BTW, baseballpurist, the Ray's old terrible owners sold the team 2 years ago....that is why they are turning it around.
Bandit77 | 05/18/08, 06:11 PM
Report Offensive CommentDarn Bandit77: I was going to say that.
As for the Stadium. Renovation for the Trop would cost almost as much as a new stadium which could be built in a better location for parking and be used to revitalize the downtown area. At least that's the plan.
Azmodi (Is saying goodbye) | 05/18/08, 08:58 PM
Report Offensive CommentLets not forget that the Trop was built long before a Team ever arrived in the Tampa area and was used as bait to draw a team to the area. Since the Rays arival it has never been supported. Not even durring it's inaugural season.
Azmodi (Is saying goodbye) | 05/18/08, 09:01 PM
Report Offensive CommentCome on...get real..Tampa is bush league...it doesn't even deserve an MLB team! It is a slimy, buggy hot and humid cesspool...best thing for the Rays is to move to a real city, too many blue hairs and rednecks...I escaped after just 2 years there...Thank God!
Tangerine | 05/18/08, 10:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentNo excuse for the horrible turnout the Rays are getting. They were getting 15,000 a game when the Yanks were in town. Yankee Stadium averages over 50,000 fans/game.
If you're not going to come out and root for this exciting young team, the problem ain't the stadium. The town just doesn't deserve an MLB team.
Yankee64 | 05/18/08, 11:57 PM
Report Offensive CommentAny stadium they build or play in will be underwater in 10 to 15 years with the global warming. What's the point of remodeling or building a new one?
timewalker | 05/19/08, 04:16 AM
Report Offensive CommentTHE GOOD CITIZENS OF TAMPA WON'T BE PAYING FOR ANYTHING. THE TEAM IS IN ST. PETERSBURG. A GOOD TEAM SOLVES ALOT OF ILLS. THE BUCS WERE HORRIBLE FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL NEW OWNERS TOOK THEIR INVESTMENT SERIOUSLY. GIVE THE RAYS A CHANCE. NAMOLI (FORMER OWNER) WAS A DISASTER.
jokah | 05/19/08, 07:00 AM
Report Offensive CommentWell, San Antonio is always in the market for a MLB team. They'd even pay for the stadium.
Tampa will do it. Just like Miami did.
Iraq Major | 05/19/08, 12:17 PM
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