After way too many years of speculation, all kinds of scenarios, the Rays and the city of St. Petersburg finally have come to a mutual agreement. They will be staying in Tampa Bay and in St. Petersburg. While Tampa was always the main target, the city and Hillsborough County could never come up with a set plan or the finances and way to get the Rays to move across the bay. It is unfortunate because that is where the center of the population of Tampa Bay is. But thanks to a mayor, ken Welch, who is pro Rays, unlike previous mayors, the city of St. Pete and the Rays were able to work out a deal that will be good for the Rays, the fans, the city and the future. The cost of the initial project will be $1.3 billion, with the Rays kicking in about $700 million, $300 million each from St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.

Now, as a devout, dedicated and ardent Rays fan who lives in Tampa, I can see both the pluses and minuses to this deal that will see the new stadium opening for the 2028 season. So let’s look at the pluses.

The whole deal not only means a new ballpark but an entirely all new area of affordable housing office and retail space, entertainment center, museums, attractions and a very hip, modern 21^st century look and feel. It is a multi billion dollar project that will take at least 15 years to complete and the new stadium will be part of phase one. Let’s face it St. Pete is no longer strictly an old people’s home as in years past. It has become a very “in” city with a much younger demographic moving in and bringing a vibrant, exciting feel to the city. Yes, the beaches are still the big draw for people, but today there is so much for people to do in St. Pete when it comes to restaurants, entertainment, shopping and attractions, and the Tampa Bay Rays are part of that.

Another plus is that this new stadium and the surrounding area that will be all around it may actually bring people who live in St. Pete to the stadium to see the Rays play. Let’s face it, the majority of the people that come out to Rays games has always been from other parts of the Tampa Bay area, not the city residents themselves, so hopefully that will change. From the renderings that have been presented the new stadium will be a fixed roof, artificial turf, 30,000 seat structure. In addition, it will have operable panels of glass that can open and let in the sunshine and provide a bright atmosphere. It will be state of the art in every way.

Now as for the minuses, there are many beginning with the fact that it will be in the same bad location. The new stadium will be built where the big main parking lot is. The other minus is parking. There will be no parking lot per se. Instead, it will be street parking and two huge parking garages that will accommodate 14,000 vehicles. If you thought getting out of the Trop was tough now, just wait it will be even worse. Picture just 10,000 cars exiting 2 parking garages onto the local streets to get to the interstate. That will be a total nightmare and clusterfook of major proportions, especially with all the other construction going on as they build phase two and three

Another minus will be for the team and players having to continue playing on artificial turf and no retractable roof. Okay, I get it, the retractable roof would have added a ton of money to the cost. Still, it has been proven that playing on artificial turf has created many injuries, in all sports, and shortened careers. At least with a retractable roof, you could have natural grass by allowing the sun in and being able to water and maintain it. Maybe by the time the new stadium is ready to open they will have come up with a way to grow grass indoors. We can hope, can’t we?

One other big minus that will have a direct affect, just as it has had over the years at the Trop, is transportation. Without light rail, an updated 21^st century bus/transportation system that will hurt in a number of ways. If you live in Tampa but don’t drive you can’t come see a game. If you live in upper Pinellas and don’t drive it will take forever to get there by bus and no guarantee you’ll get a bus home because they stop running so early. The lack of modern transportation not only keeps fans away from the game, but spending money in and around the stadium. That is a big downer and I see no attempts being made to fix that situation for the foreseeable future.

In closing my only real wish is that Mayor Welsh, unlike all his predecessors, will live up to his promises and deliver on them. Let’s hope it is not like the crooks 30 years ago who stole the property with a lot of empty promises that were never fulfilled while they stuffed their pockets with dirty money and gave not only Tampa, but the city of St. Petersburg, the big finger.

Now, let’s get behind the Rays as they battle for the division lead and head into the 2023 post season with only one thing on their minds……winning the World Series………….RAYS UP!!

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN