Taking a break from my attacks on Lightning management, I’ll redirect my efforts now toward the city of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Previously known as “God’s Waiting Room” (just had to dust that one off), St. Petersburg has turned into a happening place over the last decade. Nightlife thrives, there’s a happening residential community both downtown and elsewhere in the city… Things aren’t all rosie there, however with economic disparity and racial/social issues, but it’s a far cry from the void that it was for so long.
Oh, lest I forget, there’s a little baseball team down there that’s got a bit of a following now. Which brings me to the point of this post.
You see, the Tampa Bay Rays announced their desires to have a new baseball stadium (just as the economic climate was turning sour in December 2007) built on the site of Al Lang Field. While the design and funding concept was outside the box, there were too many issues (economics, logistics, NIMBY’s, etc) that put a halt to the plans for Tropicana Field’s replacement.
But the team is still exploring options and places around Pinellas County…
Which has St. Petersburg crying foul because the team’s lease at Tropicana Field and with the city of St. Petersburg does not expire until 2027, and they don’t want the Rays to go anyplace outside the city. Oh, and they’re not sure if they even want a new stadium for the Rays…
But they demand the Rays be their own personal Rays. Forget the region concept that is the name “Tampa Bay” — the thought debate on a new stadium has hinged (supposedly) in the past on the Rays ballclub being renamed the St. Petersburg Rays.
