I live in New Tampa as well. And I’m not fighting all that traffic to go to a baseball game. I’ve lived here for 13 years. And I haven’t been to one baseball game.I’m thinking the attendance will improve temporarily due to the novelty, but what happens when that novelty wears off?
The traffic issue is no joke. I live in New Tampa, and it took me a good 2 hours+ getting back home after a matinee game (hell it takes me less time to go to Gainesville). Can’t go to as many games as I’d like, but if the alternative is the team moving to Montreal, then keep them in St Pete. Whatevs.
You are not in the minority. I agree. This socialism needs to stop. I don't care if all of the sports teams leave tampa. Screw those moochers. Not one penny should be given to them.The total bill was close to 400 million which is very inexpensive today but it wasn’t in 1999 when it was approved.
The issue for me is not whether the cost is relatively low or high but why taxpayers fund a multibillion dollar industry and then toss the keys to a billion dollar owner so he garners all the profits for every use of the venue.
I know I am in the minority here but there is no justification for this at all and it gets worse each year.
I will shut up now.
Fairgrounds. It's so simpleI lived in Tampa many years went downtown maybe once. Lived in Saint Pete until recently and was downtown almost monthly if not more. The stadium is in a great location where it's at.
I do agree with some of the other posters that the Curtis Park area or by the fairgrounds would be better and open up more opportunities for fans from the Lakeland / Orlando side.
The problem is that Tampa only has like 6 roads that actually go anywhere so wherever they put it in Tampa would be the worst possible place anyways.
I agree but then they'd probably put it right next to hard rock with no exit nearby.Fairgrounds. It's so simple
The hard rock is one of the reasons I want it there. Partner with it. Knock the fairgrounds down and build it right near the amphitheaterI agree but then they'd probably put it right next to hard rock with no exit nearby.
The interesting wrinkle here is that presumably the Rays are going to contribute half the cost of the new stadium. I'm sure there are some missing pieces to the financing.
Rays press conference ducks questions about $1.3B stadium plan, looks to break ground next year
Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and St. Petersburg and Pinellas County officials made their official announcement of their stadium plan yesterday, and ... oh dear, it's Marc Topkin writing it up, is it? Well, let's see if there's anything useful we can glean from his report: The financing...www.fieldofschemes.com