Devil Rays

[fishinBULL]

i think the rays need a stadium in downtown Tampa, it doesnt even have to be retractable, we could use the humid air to our advantage.  It would do so much for the rays, and for the city.  More people would go, especially college students, you could go to a basball game, and then hit Ybor just as the night life heats up.  The trop is a piece of junk anyways.

[Apis Bull]

I think most people would agree with you, but there's the issue with who would pay for it.

[smazza]

the tampa franchise is a model for how to screw up a franchise from a-z

[Apis Bull]

You mean the St. Pete franchise.

[BULLfreak]

the stadium needs to be right where legends field is now F the Yankees

[Barry_Schwartz]

The problem is that the Rays signed a 30 year lease with the city of St. Pete.  To get out of the lease or to renovate the Trop with, say a retractable roof, would cost about the same.  Not chump change by any means, and I don't think they have that kind of dough.  I have been preaching a stadium somewhere near the Ice Palace for years.  Imagine, a nice breeze off the water, sunset one way, downtown the other.  Man would that be nice...I can't tell you how many times I have been walking into the Trop on a beautifull night only to step inside the morgue and almost fall asleep.  I know some people think it is too hot in the summer for an open air stadium, or it rains too much, but put the stadium near the water and it's not that bad.

[fishinBULL]

right on man thats been my vision also.