The Tampa Bay Rays have released a wish list of sorts with specifications for their proposed new stadium.
Referencing the change in stadiums that Camden Yards brought to the table when the Baltimore Orioles opened the stadium in 1992, the Rays are hoping their new ballpark will be the start of a new era of baseball stadiums.
While remaining vague about specific details or plans, the Rays did point out on a one-page statement that "there has been an evolution from spectator culture to participant culture. The in-ballpark consumer expects an interconnected, one-of-a-kind experience in a truly authentic setting, and the traditional ballpark model should be adapted for the evolving fan."
Along with the fans' in-game experience, the Rays also say the site for the new stadium should be approximately 20 acres in size, with the surrounding area containing development potential or already existing business developments. With this detail, the Rays hope external retail, entertainment and food options will increase interest in the stadium, which will in turn create more interest in a team that has one of the lowest attendance rates in the league.
To make the new Tampa Bay baseball stadium a reality, the Rays are hoping for taxpayer dollars, saying a "public-private partnership that would support the construction of the Rays next generation ballpark is critical."
The next steps in the process is for the Rays to meet with parties interested in hosting the new stadium in the Tampa Bay area. St. Petersburg, where the Rays currently reside, believes the current Tropicana Field site along with the Toytown area would fit the team's specifications. The Rays current lease with Tropicana Field runs through 2027.
Needless to say, with the precise specification requests, the Rays' new stadium revolution won't include catwalks.
