The Wall Street Journal: Tampa Bay Rays Will Build Another Dome-This Time, With Windows by Lindsay Alder
The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Tuesday a new ballpark plan that a private-public partnership will fund to keep the team in St. Petersburg. The deal makes it easier for Major League Baseball to think about expanding.
The Rays have been trying to leave the old stadium because it is dark and dingy and they would have relocated to Las Vegas to build their new ballpark. Now they do not have to relocate. Their new deal will be in a new, fixed-roof dome with windows, an artificially turfed facility. It will seat 30,000.
Brain Auld the co-owner of the team told Lindsay Alder, “When Stuart Sternberg purchased the Rays, our focus was on winning games and providing a great fan experience. ” Building a new ballpark with help with their goal of providing a great fan experience.
Another example of a sports team/owner using extortion to
get the city to spend millions of dollars on a new stadium.