Rays up. The Tampa Bay Rays, hot off clinching a playoff spot, have announced they are staying in St. Pete, Florida and will indeed be a part of the Historic Gas Plant District Development downtown.
The ballpark in the 86-acre district will have a capacity of 30,000 fans. This fully enclosed and air-conditioned ballpark will ensure comfort and protection from the elements while maintaining the ability to seamlessly integrate with the surrounding environment. Transparent, mobile walls will line exterior-facing businesses to “bring the outside in.” The unique roof design also captures the essence of a “Pavilion” – a keystone of Florida-style architecture known for its flexibility.
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Building a massive new ballpark in St. Pete for the Rays
St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch wrote the following in an open letter: “In an exciting public-private collaboration, the City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, the Hines Historic Gas Plant Partnership, and the Tampa Bay Rays have achieved an agreement for the 86-acre redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District that includes a new home for the Tampa Bay Rays! Months of thoughtful discussion and deliberation have resulted in a financially responsible deal that will transform the entire Tampa Bay area for generations to come.”
“Pinellas County is very much looking forward to investing tourism-generated funds to bring this new stadium to our community and create another new, exciting destination within our County – paid for by tourists,” writes Pinellas County Commissioner Long. “Partnering to invest in projects like this stadium has a far-reaching impact throughout the entire County by creating at least 4,500 construction jobs and more than 15,000 annual jobs throughout Pinellas County, new County sales tax, and additional hotel bed taxes.”
Major 86-acre opportunity in the Sunshine City
With three levels of seating, there will be something for everyone at the new ballpark – from premium clubs and suites to flexible viewing spots, decks, and social hangouts. Cutting-edge amenities and top-notch tech ensure a viewing experience like no other. Plus, families are in for a treat with an aquarium exhibit and multiple kid-friendly zones.
Almost 40% of Rays game attendees come from outside of the Tampa Bay area, with more than half of those fans traveling from out-of-state. These attendees drive tourism, room nights and economic activity. As the district expands into a true destination, the team’s tourism impact is sure to grow exponentially.
This new district is set to include 4,800 residential units, 1,200 affordable/workforce units, 750,000 square feet of retail space, 750 hotel rooms, and 14 acres of parks and open public space. You can get a full rundown of the plans online.
Get all the information you need on Rays post-season tickets on the team’s website.
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