This is Al Lang Field in downtown St Petersburg, Florida. It has been used for Spring Training for many years, but now that's over.
The Tampa Bay Rays baseball team wants to leave Tropicana Field and build a new stadium here on the waterfront, on the expanded site of Al Lang Field.
Al Lang Field, like all of the downtown parks in St Petersburg, Florida, comes with a restriction. The City of St Petersburg cannot sell or even long-term lease any of this "parkland" with out a referendum approved by a majority of the voters in St Pete.
Opinions are rampant, tempers are rising, and even before the St Petersburg City Council has decided whether to put this on the ballot, signs are popping up in yards all around the city. The majority that I've seen are opposing the new stadium.
Several issues are under consideration: is this what we want on the waterfront? is this the time to be committing city money (our taxes) for a privately owned baseball team's profit? Where will the people park and how will that affect downtown businesses and nearby neighborhoods? How will the new stadium block existing buildings and dominate the downtown skyline? The other side is pointing out economic benefits and potential tax revenue from the redevelopment of Tropicana Field and the money that will be spent by people coming to the games. and they also stress that the decision should be given to the voters, not decided (in the negative) by the City Council.
From signs in the yard to coffee conversation, the NEW waterfront stadium is certainly an important topic in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Sharon one thing for sure is that this is a beautiful site. This would be a great backdrop for a game.
Sharon, Bill's right...what a beautiful site! What we've learned here in the DFW area is that when a developer and team owner wants a site and all the surrounding property...they get the property! All Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys owner) has to do is hiccup and he gets what he wants.
Sharon,
I think the problem with having any kind of stadium in FL is the weather. We are going through this with the Marlins. Last night we left because it was pouring. I wish they would just close up their current stadium instead of moving even further away. I probably won't be seeing many games anymore..the travel is going to be too far just for a game...it stinks in my opinion. They should have just built all of them with retractable roofs in the beginning.
Bill - it surely is. It's all over tv when the Grand Prix races downtown. I guess it's a question of whether the waterfront should be used to attract new people or for the use of the existing people. We have a charming low-key downtown waterfront right now.
Linda - it certainly seems that way here, too. Dreams often outweigh reality. We're unique in that the public has the control via their votes - however influenced they may be by the press, publicity, etc.
Neal - ironic! Tropicana Field is now a closed stadium, with a translucent roof. The new one is designed with a retractable "sail-like" roof. Why don't they just make the current stadium roof retractable? It should cost many millions less!