Comments on: The Rays say that the Tropicana Field site is way too valuable for baseball

By: Rockie D. Bull

Rockie D. Bull — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:31:36 +0000

The land where the Trop sits is on the old gas plant site; the area gained value because the Trop was built there. Without it and the Rays, that land WILL NOT be as valuable as the Rays are claiming. Without their games and the events hosted at the Trop, Ferg’s Sports Bar reverts to a gas station and the other businesses close because the St Pete Police station patronage will not nearly be enough to sustain the area and its current trend, plus there will no longer be any reason to go to that part of town. What the Rays didn’t mention is, Al Lang field sits empty down on the water front, making it a much more desirable area for development than the land around the Trop.

LOL – Old Gator; thanks to the new stadium deal in Miami, MLB will be hard pressed to hoodwink any other cities into building them a cruise liner stadium like the Blowhole. If Stu and Uncle Bud pay for it; I’m all for a new stadium where ever they want to put it. Until then – the Blowhole in Miami will serve as the #1 argument for not building a new stadium here.

There’s nothing wrong with the Trop.

By: martywinn

martywinn — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:22:55 +0000

It’s hard for me to believe this is particularly valuable land. The stadium is some 13 blocks from the waterfront. There is the valuable land. To the south are blighted neighborhoods. I don’t think anyone is going to make an overwhelming offer on this land. That’s why it was available when they built the stadium.

By: muscles1331

muscles1331 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:40:35 +0000

I live in Montreal and would whole heartedly support the Rays coming up here so long as Omar Minaya is barred from the country and Friedman promises to stay for a few more years.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:05:49 +0000

I would just paint the dome with Freezone and keep on doing it until there was nothing left of it. It looks like a wart anyway. Then the Razed could claim their lease was worthless because it was a lease on nothing.

By: nothanksimdriving123

nothanksimdriving123 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 07:59:39 +0000

I hear Montreal is looking for a team. LOL.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 02:13:01 +0000

Could the busted chair in the room be more valuable than the elephant that broke it? If the elephant leaves, then it is just a broken chair. That’s sad considering that the elephant has been the most exciting thing in the AL East for the past few years. The Rays should move to where they are more appreciated.

By: indaburg

indaburg — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:57:19 +0000

/throws cowbells

By: gloccamorra

gloccamorra — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:48:17 +0000

Even in Orlando, it would have to be a dome, and they’re expensive. I don’t think Disney would get involved if it were in Orlando – they owned the Angels, rebuilt the Big A, learned the economics, sold out and never looked back.

By: pauleee

pauleee — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:47:34 +0000

Actually, that is exactly what they would be. Completely free of anyplace they could call “Home”.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:05:59 +0000

They could always open an Amway at the stadium.

By: fanofevilempire

fanofevilempire — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:47:57 +0000

maybe the Rays should move to Orlando.

By: gogigantos

gogigantos — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:38:14 +0000

The Giants for a long time were despised among the inner circle of the sports world for paying for most all of their yard and providing and example of how it should be done. The reward for paying for it yourself are outright ownership and income after debt is paid. Just a few more years of service and the Giants own it all.
The better model according to the providers of teams is that towns, cities, and states pony up for most all and hand it over.
Well, that does make more sense for them, doesn’t it?

By: georgejarkko

georgejarkko — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:33:37 +0000

True – Downtown St. Pete has improved tremendously DESPITE the ballfield, not because of it.

By: dowhatifeellike

dowhatifeellike — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:27:30 +0000

The only thing keeping the Rays at the Trop is economics. Pay to build a new stadium and pay to break the current lease or STFU and honor your current deal.

By: js20011041

js20011041 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:27:08 +0000

Here lies the key issue. The discussion is solely about getting out of their lease with St Pete. No one talks about whether or not they can or should (they shouldn’t) get a publicly funded stadium in Tampa. They are by no means home free once they get out of that lease.

By: echech88

echech88 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:11:13 +0000

Unless the Rays have creative plans to privately finance a new park, I’d guess the Marlins and Miami will serve as a very ugly reminder to Tampa politicians to just say no.