Sternberg makes statement on a new stadium for the Rays

Post #1 » by **craig01** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:23 pm

Push and shove now begins.

viewforum.php?f=121

Post #2 » by **craig01** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:59 pm

Here's a bit more detail from the Rays website.

http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/artic ... sp&c_id=tb

Jersey Generals · Post #3 » by **Jersey Generals** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:01 pm

What are the chances that they move out of Florida all together? I understand that he wants to stay in St. Pete/Tampa area, but can they really succeed in that area?

Post #4 » by **craig01** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 11:33 pm

Jersey Generals wrote:What are the chances that they move out of Florida all together? I understand that he wants to stay in St. Pete/Tampa area, but can they really succeed in that area?

None with the current ownership.

I think that in a couple of years if nothing gets going, Sternberg may sell the team.....which would be a shame as this is a GREAT ownership group.

Baseball can survive IMO, but the stadium needs be on the Tampa side of the Bay. Everyone BUT the folks in St Pete realize this.

That would put the team much closer to better demographics in Tampa and also within reach of Lakeland and Orlando to which attending a weeknight game now is basically an impossible commute.

Unfortunately, this would revive the geographical war again between the sister cities. The Trop is located on the southern peninsula of St Pete, and is an hour and forty five minutes from Orlando (where I live).

Jersey Generals · Post #5 » by **Jersey Generals** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:33 pm

Interesting. Incredible that all they would have to do is move (ten miles? ten minutes? not familiar with Tampa/St. Pete) and they could be/would be more successful.

Post #6 » by **craig01** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:19 pm

Jersey Generals wrote:Interesting. Incredible that all they would have to do is move (ten miles? ten minutes? not familiar with Tampa/St. Pete) and they could be/would be more successful.

It's more like 20 .......to even 30 miles were they to relocate to east Tampa.

Travel time is a lot more than the miles though. I can get to east Tampa from Orlando in about an hour, those in lakeland in about 30 minutes. Folks in east and north Tampa (younger and more affluent demographics) currently face 45 minutes to an hour plus trying to get over one of the bridges and then face St Pete traffic.

Needless to say, that is part of the reason as to why weeknight attendance is so poor at the Trop.

Saturdays and Sundays draw well now.....but that's because it's the weekend.