Tampa Bay's new stadium plan unveiled

[OleMissCub]

Normally I'd mock anything the Rays do, but this does look pretty neat:

 

http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071128&content_id=2313331&vkey=news_tb&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb

 

The Tampa Bay Rays, who have played indoors at Tropicana Field for their first 10 seasons,unveiled plans on Wednesday for a retractable-roof, 34,000-seat, open-air waterfront ballpark that could open as early as 2012.

 

The roof, likened to a giant sail, will produce an umbrella effect, retaining the open-air feel. Rays officials, working with HOK Sport architects, deemed a traditional retractable roof impractical because of the small site and undesirable, since it would block the water views.

 

http://www.majorleaguedowntown.com/userfiles/image/57_Ballpark_Pioneer%20Park.jpg

 

http://www.majorleaguedowntown.com/userfiles/image/57_Ballpark_Upper%20Deck.jpg

 

http://www.majorleaguedowntown.com/userfiles/image/57_Ballpark_from%20North.jpg

 

http://www.majorleaguedowntown.com/userfiles/image/57_Ballpark_2nd%20Ave.jpg

 

http://www.majorleaguedowntown.com/userfiles/image/57_Ballpark_from%20Bay.jpg

[Transmogrified Tiger]

So they're covering the stadium with a shower curtain?

[Roast]

what happens when a ball knocks off that net they have over it?

 

 

Really though, that looks pretty cool

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

They would have been better off investing in 25,000 mannequins to give the impression they actually have fans.

[Clem Fandango]

Nice virtual tour...

 

http://www.majorleaguedowntown.com/VideoImages.aspx?q=play

 

I love that ballpark, personally. I also like how they skimp on the outfield seats. I'm sure if they actually become good they'd add some more, lol.

[OleMissCub]

So they're covering the stadium with a shower curtain?

 

and much like Psycho, their seasons will end in a brutal mauling.

[E.J.]

I actually think the design is really cool. It's very different from what we see nowadays. I would actually go to a Rays game if I were down in Florida to see that ballpark.

[CubinNY]

I actually think the design is really cool. It's very different from what we see nowadays. I would actually go to a Rays game if I were down in Florida to see that ballpark.

The design of the stadium fits the design of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge very well. It should be quite beautiful.

[Andy]

It's going to look weird, but it's a very cool idea that should draw a good amount of fans. I know I'll want to visit when the Cubs play there in interleague.

[minnesotacubsfan]

that is one hell of a ballst tower, not too elegant. the rest of the stadium is very nice. reminds me abit of Chavez Ravine (Dodger Stadium)

[Post Count Padder]

Cool looking stadium, though the netting looks odd.

[cbbryan]

I kinda like it. It's unique that's for sure.

[OleMissCub]

Cool looking stadium, though the netting looks odd.

 

Is that netting or glass?

[apete6]

Cool looking stadium, though the netting looks odd.

 

Is that netting or glass?

 

It's apparently going to be made out of the material they use for sails in yachts. They said a retractable roof would essentially ruin the view of the Bay and downtown Tampa. That and it would probably cost them another $200 million or so. The sails won't block 100% of rain delays, but should be sufficient for everything except the heaviest storms.

 

A lot of the fans are complaining about the lack of A/C in the proposed stadium, but the team is planning on putting many cooling/misting fans in and will "try their best" to not play many night games in the summer. I know the Rangers play Sunday night games in July and August, even if they're not on Sunday Night Baseball. I guess there's also some sort of ventilation system that "assures" that the temperatures would be cooler in the seats than Atlanta and on par with KC ans St. Louis, whatever that means.

 

I spend a lot of time in the Tampa area for work and this could be a good thing, but St. Pete still has a negative reputation with a lot of the area fans, especially in higher income growing areas such as New Tampa (northwest of Tampa) and Brandon (eastern suburbs, about 30 miles from St. Pete). It's pretty much all BS in my opinion. People in Chicago drive about twice as much as anyone in Tampa would be willing to drive for any sport except the Buccaneers.

 

All in all, I think the stadium will be a good thing for the team, but only if they are able to compete one of these years in the AL East. If they continue to suck, the new stadium won't do much for them, much like Pittsburgh, who has the best stadium but can't get attendance because their team sucks. Only difference is that Tampa has a high transient population and will be able to get good attendance for all Boston and NY games and better than average for teams such as Toronto, Baltimore, and other northern cities that have a high% of retirees in the area.

[erik316wttn]

How would that thing hold up in hurricane-force winds?

[Omar]

Looks really cool. Nice to see them diversify. Thank god it's not another cookie cutter ballpark.

[B]

It looks like a giant mosquito net.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Thank god it's not another cookie cutter ballpark.

 

I agree

[sethuel1]

Thank god it's not another cookie cutter ballpark.

 

I agree

When was the last time a new ballpark came out that was a cookie cutter? I'd say the last stadium built that was completely uninteresting as New Comiskey. Every stadium built or in the works since that stadium has at least a somewhat interesting design.

[C.C.]

Certainly is different.

[Exile on Waveland]

Different, could be cool. Wonder when the last stadium with such low seating capacity (34K) has been built. That's small, though they obviously have no fan base/fans.

[sethuel1]

Different, could be cool. Wonder when the last stadium with such low seating capacity (34K) has been built. That's small, though they obviously have no fan base/fans.

the trop only holds 38k

[Garage Party]

Thank god it's not another cookie cutter ballpark.

 

I agree

When was the last time a new ballpark came out that was a cookie cutter? I'd say the last stadium built that was completely uninteresting as New Comiskey. Every stadium built or in the works since that stadium has at least a somewhat interesting design.

Cookie-cutter isn't the right word for it, but Busch Stadium has really milked the "retro style with modern amenities!" teat bone-dry.

[Omar]

Thank god it's not another cookie cutter ballpark.

 

I agree

When was the last time a new ballpark came out that was a cookie cutter? I'd say the last stadium built that was completely uninteresting as New Comiskey. Every stadium built or in the works since that stadium has at least a somewhat interesting design.

Cookie-cutter isn't the right word for it, but Busch Stadium has really milked the "retro style with modern amenities!" teat bone-dry.

 

Exactly.

 

http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/stlbpk01.jpg

http://media.bonnint.net/wtop/1/189/18944.jpg

http://www.gothamgazette.com/graphics/CitiField.jpg

[CuseCubFan69]

Here are some of the new stadiums the Marlins are looking at:

 

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Cat/Toilets/990