“Tampa Bay is expected to announce a deal to build a new ballpark in downtown St. Petersburg, according to MLB.com, the official site of Major League Baseball. The agreement will end Tampa Bay’s long search for a new ballpark and fulfill the organization’s goal of securing a long-term home in the Tampa Bay area.”
Tampa Bay currently plays its home games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Opened in 1986, Tropicana Field has been criticized for its deteriorating facilities. It is currently the only closed dome stadium left in Major League Baseball. It has also been criticized for its lack of accessibility from Tampa, the largest city in the Tampa Bay area, which hinders Tampa Bay’s attendance.먹튀검증
Because of this, Tampa Bay has been trying to build a new stadium. After negotiations with St. Petersburg stalled, the team considered new locations such as Tampa, Montreal, and Las Vegas. However, none of them resulted in an actual deal, and the team ultimately decided to build a new ballpark in St. Petersburg.
According to MLB.com, “Tampa Bay would not comment on or acknowledge the new stadium deal. However, the team, the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County announced this evening that a joint announcement will be made at Tropicana Field on Tuesday morning,” anticipating the announcement of the new stadium.
The new stadium will be built as part of the redevelopment of the area where Tropicana Field is currently located. According to MLB.com, “The new ballpark will be built on the 86-acre area where Tropicana Field is located, or what is referred to as the Historic Gas Plant Area. Tampa Bay signed a 30-year lease with Tropicana Field when it was founded in 1998, which expires in 2027. The new ballpark will serve as Tampa Bay’s new home beginning in 2028.”
According to Tampa Bay’s plans, the new stadium will be an enclosed dome with 30,000 seats. It will also feature artificial turf, openable walls, and an exhibit hall design. It is expected to cost at least $1.2 billion and will be financed by a public-private partnership that includes the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. Tampa Bay owner Stuart Sternberg told the Tampa Bay Times that he expects the Rays to cover “more than half” of the new stadium project.
MLB.com reports, “The new ballpark is part of a plan to redevelop the area where Tropicana Field is located. The redevelopment will include multi-family housing, offices, retail, a hotel, senior living, and entertainment.” “Tampa Bay has been searching for a new home for nearly 16 years. However, plans to build in new neighborhoods in 2007 and 2022 ultimately fell through, and a 2022 co-location plan with Montreal was never approved by Major League Baseball. It now appears that Tampa Bay will remain at Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg, where it has played since 1998.”
