By Theo A. Katz
After ongoing discussions about relocation, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field will undergo a renovation.
Arguably rated as one of the worst stadiums in Major League Baseball (MLB), Tropicana Field has been home to the Rays since 1998. Based in downtown St. Petersburg, the location is an inconvenience for residents of Tampa Bay and surrounding cities, requiring fans to take a lengthy drive.
The rumors of a new stadium first circulated last week as headlines were posted on social media, emphasizing that a relocation to Tampa is not inevitable; however, these talks ceased on Jan. 30.
According to ESPN, “A new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays will be built near the current one under plans unveiled that includes housing, office space, and retail…The broader plan includes about 5,700 housing units – a large chunk of them to be deemed affordable – office and retail space, 700 hotel rooms, a 2,500 seat entertainment venue and a new Woodson African American Museum of Florida.”
Throughout recent years, the Rays have been poorly ranked in attendance, having the outcome of rankings 28-31. A new stadium will not only increase fanfare, but will also make professional baseball a more-welcoming sight for St. Petersburg.
“We think Tampa is a major league market and we want to find a solution that makes the club economically viable in that market,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said.
The Rays have expressed to the rest of the MLB that they can be a big market, making the playoffs the last four seasons, including a lone World Series appearance in 2020.
This project will also include renovating the Gas Plant district. According to Fox13News, the renovation will be rendered “the Hines-Rays proposal”, as “The Rays teamed up with developer Hines to put its own development plan forward.”
An obstacle with this multi-billion dollar renovation will preserve the history of both the Gas Plant District and surrounding historical monuments. To honor the Gas Plant District, “Requested plans must include 17.3 acres for a baseball stadium and honor the Gas Plant District’s history.” Mayor of St. Petersburg, Ken Welch said.
This renovation is expected to be complete prior to 2028 opening day and with construction going on for that long, it will be difficult for surrounding areas to battle.
“This is a promising first step in the long awaited redevelopment process of the Tropicana Field site. As a lifelong Pinellas resident, I’m excited to see the Hines and Rays team put their development plan into action to more effectively activate the 86-acre Trop site for residents and visitors alike while honoring the Gas Plant District legacy.” said Pinellas County Property Appraiser, Mike Twitty.
“While this project will have a long construction timeline due to its large site size and variety of uses, I anticipate that Hines’ experience in large developments will lead to a thoughtful construction process to attempt to limit disruptions to the surrounding area.” said Twitty
Known for its Gulf Coast beaches and Rays baseball, St. Petersburg has been a top tourist destination attracting millions of visitors and Rays fans from around the globe; yet due to the low attendance, a majority of the city’s income has come from tourism.
A new Tropicana Field complex comes for a better St. Petersburg and a new fan experience for Rays fans.