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Sail design only makes sense on the water on the west side of the Bay. The point of it is that it catches the breeze and keeps the stadium cool. Wind travels west in the Tampa Bay area, except during hurricanes. It just wouldn't have much of an effect if it's located anywhere else.

Perfect

Ah, yes, the breeze - thanks. So off the water = dome/retractable roof = higher cost = must be as easily accessible as possible to get the highest possible attendance = Hillsborough county.

Why hasn't anyone discussed putting the stadium where Lopez Park is located? Or because it is a park, and it is named after someone, is that a no-no?

I ADDED NEW ITEMS TO THIS, THATS WHY I AM REPOSTING THIS and bumping this thread(population and roadways)

Not sure if this belongs here or not, but while looking over a few pieces of land throughout the bay area I have determined Tampa will be the best place to build a new stadium and I will include reasons to support my reasoning.

For those of you who say that they would stop going to games if the Rays were to move out of St. Pete, this bulletin isn't intended on challenging you on that issue, just why I feel they will eventually end up in Tampa

In the RAYS NEW BALLPARK THREAD, I listed a few potential spots and the focal point was that of Julian B Lane Riverfront Park.

Location

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=riverfront+park+tampa&sll=27.951724,-82.466555&sspn=0.019788,0.027466&ie=UTF8&ll=27.954226,-82.466919&spn=0.009894,0.013733&z=16&iwloc=A

Views from the Location

From Southeast corner
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=tampa&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=70.739879,112.5&ie=UTF8&ll=27.953236,-82.465766&spn=0.00236,0.005472&t=h&z=18&g=tampa&layer=c&cbll=27.952051,-82.466008&panoid=Fm3k_8uMbmkh_0SWAs-KGw&cbp=2,112.40294621771738,,0,5.294223808708572

From Northeast corner
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=tampa&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=70.739879,112.5&ie=UTF8&ll=27.955141,-82.465442&spn=0.00118,0.002736&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=27.954548,-82.465561&panoid=vnronq98zQ-tiwSSIqxSHQ&cbp=2,143.7028844164135,,0,-4.90670543227014

From Fortune street (otherside of the river) looking at the location
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=tampa&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=70.739879,112.5&ie=UTF8&ll=27.953392,-82.464516&spn=0.00118,0.002736&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=27.952799,-82.464637&panoid=IQRGiV6zJM7AK5JIgn_kCg&cbp=2,298.5561640605266,,0,8.005405018778583





As you can see from the lands dimensions, there is ample land.



I have included 4 examples of existing major league stadiums on the Julian B Lane land (my photoshop skills are terrible)

PNC PARK



MINUTE MAID PARK



CAMDEN YARDS



AT&T PARK



As for fans getting into the stadium, the first thing would be a pedestrian bridge from W Fortune Street.



Public Transportation

Next we need to address public transportation. This is where Tampa has a giant advantage over St. Pete. As you can tell from the map below, Tampa has really thought out their transportation needs in the downtown area. (in included a larger key after the photo)

SOURCE http://www.hillsboroughmpo.org/





I zoomed in on the photo for easier viewing. You can easily see the the TECO streetcar is planned to go up the west side of Tampa along the east side of the Hillsborough River. This would make for a easy commute and parking from the Channelside Parking Garage. In addition, there will also be Water Taxi service, High speed rail entering close to the Channelside Parking garage and 3 new parking garages planned for the northern part of Tampa.

Parking Garages



Speaking of parking, these are the current lots that are available for parking (not counting the UT parking garage). The yellow represents parking available and as i stated, Tampa plans on turning 3 of those into parking garages.



Tampa has 3 parking garages planned for the northern part of downtown. I hightlighted them in yellow.



below is the key for that map



Driving There

You can access that area from 275 and the Lee Roy Selmon. Currently 275 does not have a exit for North Blvd, but with the current construction they have already planned an off ramp headed east bound and an on ramp headed west bound. This would make the commute for Pinellas residents easier and would allow direct interstate traffic to exit in front of the stadium.



They are also working on a connection for west bound Crosstown/LeeRoy Selmon to connect directly to west bound I-4. This connection will be in Ybor (around 34th street), so the population boom of southeast Hillsborough will have 2 routes to get into downtown Tampa



Local Business

Here are two google links that show all of the restaurants and Bars within a 1 mile radius on the University of Tampa

Restaurants Pages 1 -12 will be within a 1 mile radius (thats 120 places to eat)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=401+W.+Kennedy+Blvd.+tampa+restaurants&sll=27.936332,-82.468185&sspn=0.037763,0.054932&ie=UTF8&radius=1.000000&ei=EaAjSbqJKITmM5TW5OME&attrid=&view=map&start=0&ll=27.945109,-82.465718&spn=0.009895,0.013733&z=16

Bars Pages 1 -4 will be within a 1 mile radius (thats 40 Bars)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&view=map&q=401+W.+Kennedy+Blvd.+tampa+bars&sll=27.945109,-82.465718&sspn=0.009895,0.013733&ie=UTF8&radius=1.000000&ei=lKgjSeGbF4fSM6PCvegE&attrid=&ll=27.951573,-82.461576&spn=0.037757,0.054932&z=14

Hotels
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&view=map&q=401+W.+Kennedy+Blvd.+tampa+hotels&sll=27.951573,-82.461576&sspn=0.037757,0.054932&ie=UTF8&radius=1.000000&ei=VqkjSafkEYL0NJK0rOoE&attrid=&ll=27.944446,-82.461405&spn=0.01888,0.027466&z=15

Population

http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/managementbudget/communitystatistics/resources/publications/populationcharts.pdf



Future Population Growth

The propsed Tampa Bay Area Beltway
http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A174150
http://www.baynews9.com/content/83/2006/8/15/174841.html
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/03/Tampabay/Hillsborough_approves.shtml




Population Radius

Due to Pinellas being the western most point of the Tampa Bay area, it is hindered with the lack of population growth due to all of that pesky water. I know these maps arent 100% scientific, but it gives you a good idea of the importance of the fan that is 20-40 miles away. Map is in intervals of 10 miles

Pinellas



Hillsborough



The most import areas on this map are the growing parts of the bay area which are New Tampa/Wesley Chapel/Zephryhills, I-4 corridor and everything south of 60 that is east of 275. Pinellas is done growing. You need to plan for the future.

From Claritas (Neilsen media)
http://www.claritas.com/Default.jsp

2011 estimates


From their estimates, Hillsborough will see a growth of 125,000 by the year 2011 and Polk will see a growth of 50,000. So the eastern part of the Tampa Bay area will see a growth of 175,000 by 2011. Pinellas is only expecting a 20,000 plus growth in that same period. So that is a plus of 155,000.

2103 estimates


From more of their studies, you see that by 2013 they are predicting Hillsborough to have an additional 50,000 residents (from their 2011 numbers), Polk will have an additional 50,000 residents (from their 2011 numbers). They are predicting that Pasco will have over 500,000 residents by 2013. From someone who has done the commute, driving to Tampa (from any part of Pasco) is easier then to St.Pete.

With this location, they get a great view, plenty of land, economic impact, local retailers would benefit, public transportation, easy access from every direction in the Tampa Bay area, etc.

If you made it through this entire post, let me know what you think.

SOURCE http://www.hillsboroughmpo.org/

That's great stuff. I know the Rays are looking into different locations, and they are sharp guys, but have you passed along your research to them? It's the best plan I've seen yet. You went into such great detail.

Because you did such a great job analyzing the Lane Park site and because I'm lazy and not nearly as computer-savvy, could you do the same kind of analysis for the site downtown bordered by Florida Ave, the Selmon, Jefferson and Washington? I have always thought it would be a prime area, since it's almost all surface parking at the moment. There are only two small buildings and an existing parking garage to contend with. And you wouldn't have to put up with the outcry against taking away a public park. It's not waterfront, which is a definite con, but it has a lot of positives. Good access, existing mass transit that would allow some remote parking, presumably reasonable land costs, since most of the site is dirt, etc.

That lot is roughly 200x200 short of being able to fit a stadium on its lot.

Looking at other stadiums, I feel as though the template I would like to duplicate would be that of SafeCo Field.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=safeco+field&sll=32.794201,-117.026367&sspn=1.149789,1.757813&ie=UTF8&ll=47.592562,-122.330564&spn=0.003603,0.010943&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=47.593757,-122.32973&panoid=9LaNFKqxNCJko0mSRbsNGg

It has the retractable roof and doesnt have one central parking lot and instead relies on many satellite lots throughout the area. There is one parking garage between SafeCo and Qwest Field, but it isnt as large as i thought (if you look at it from the street view and walk around it you will see its not as large as you will first percieve).

Seatle and Tampa Bay has a lot in common when it comes to baseball cities. Both were notorious losers and had terrible attendance numbers. So if those fans are willing to walk from satellite lots, so are Tampa Bay fans

I suspect walking from satellite lots and on-street parking will be met with some resistance due to the increased percentage of senior citizens in this area...
Buses and shuttles that would effectively move patrons to the ballpark and back to their parking area would be great...however, I also suspect that will NOT happen with the inefficient local governments in place...

look at the plans downtown tampa has already in progress (above)

So you buy enough property to pick up the extra 40,000 square feet. Where does that put them?

Unless Tampa really, really, really wants the Rays to move here, it's not a move that will happen. There is a 20 year lease on the Trop and St. Pete wants to keep them. Breaking that lease will cost at least 80 million dollars and potentially 100. So with the retractable roof stadium that Silverman says we need if we build anywhere not where Al Lang Field is, that would essentially push the stadium cost in excess of 750 million dollars. Not very likely.

I hope they build that Beltway, in fact I hope it goes right through my house. Give me what I paid for it and I'll gladly hand it over. I'll even help them tear it down

From http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/Sports/Detail?contentId=8168808&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=6.1.1



Location
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Carillon+Town+Center+pinellas+st+pete&sll=37.926868,-95.712891&sspn=34.224513,56.25&ie=UTF8&ll=27.890313,-82.666197&spn=0.009426,0.021887&t=h&z=16