Inside the MLB’s Most Controversial New Stadium

Thanks for 15,000 subscribers!

—-------------------------------------------------------

This video dives into the future of the Tampa Bay Rays' new stadium project, set to replace the aging Tropicana Field, which recently suffered major damage from Hurricane Milton. The new stadium is part of a broader redevelopment of the Gas Plant District, a massive multi-billion-dollar project. We explore the key features of the new stadium’s design, including seating for around 33,000 fans, a hurricane-resistant roof, and year-round entertainment spaces. However, controversy surrounds the project due to its high cost, with local governments contributing over $700 million in public funding. Critics argue the deal is financially irresponsible, with the city potentially taking on $1.5 billion in long-term losses. Supporters say the stadium will revitalize the area and provide economic benefits beyond baseball. As construction is set to begin in 2025, this project has sparked heated debates over public funding for sports venues. We analyze the benefits and potential pitfalls of this ambitious development and its impact on the local community.

—-------------------------------------------------------

Fair Use Disclaimer:

This video contains copyrighted material used under the guidelines of fair use. The purpose of this video is to tell a story, and the content is transformative in nature. It is used for educational purposes, with the intention to inform and entertain viewers. All rights to the copyrighted material are retained by the respective owners.

[ZOBuccaneer]

Stop public financing of stadiums to subsidize privately-owned teams. No one goes to the Rays games. Let them leave rather than the taxpayers front over $700 million.

[wilsongv]

using public funds to build a stadium and then having private companies profit from the stadium should be illegal and investigated.

[jjj]

Until they get a train/metro to move people from, for example, Orlando to the stadium, there will be no change in crowd sizes. It is impossible to get to the location with traffic.

[purplesprigs]

Anyone remember "Ballpark Village" in St. Louis? It was long on promises and little was delivered. Of course, Phase A is the stadium. Somehow B, C, and D will run into budgetary problems. Bet on it.

[cameroncrabbe]

They shouldve put it in Tampa, not in St Pete... The original Ybor project wouldve been perfect. The Rays would sell out like the Bolts do

[kurtrodney]

The issue on the Rays attendance is a complex issue that goes much farther than just "bad traffic". Pinellas County is the most densely populated County in the state of Florida and St. Petersburg has a population of 260K+ within city limits. Yes, most of the fanbase is in Tampa but why are people not considering the million people that already live in Pinellas County and dont have to cross any bridges at all?

The Rays gameday experience along with the the quality of stadium play a huge role in the bad attendance. But also, the community as a whole have rejected the team because of the cheap ownership that trades away fan favorites every year. In your own chart from 2008- onwards has steadily declined. Coincidentally 2008 was when the team made the world series. Since then the Rays have traded fan favorites, Cy-Young Pitchers, etc. to where there is literally no point buy a jersey because you dont know if the player will be there after 3 years.

Until the Rays get new ownership not much will change

[jjjones]

In 25 years, the Rays will want a new stadium. The taxpayers will be left with outrageous tax increases

[gFamWeb]

You alluded to it, but part of the controversy too is that the original Tropicana Field was built on the land of a razed black neighborhood (the Gas Plant neighborhood), an act that's controversial up until this day.

That's why they're adding in affordable housing (well, that, and because of general pressure recently to move towards walkable neighborhoods), and why they're naming the redevelopment project after the neighborhood that used to be there.

Interestingly, at the start of this, they were planning for the potential of a new stadium not even being there, with them asking prospective contractors to propose two plans each: one with a stadium and one without.

[DavidPM]

I wonder if they will play in a temporary stadium until the new one is built. I don’t see them repairing it.

[battles]

Should have moved the Rays to Nashville. But now Nashville is probably in line for an expansion team.

[jmodigital]

Corporate welfare, nothing less. GREED, GREED, GREED

[cptjockitch]

Bad attendance has nothing to do with a bad stadium. Most people dont know there are 4 minor league stadiums on the way to the rays stadium if you are outside of st pete. Look it up. 3 of the 4 minor league teams have fairly new stadiums. So anyone coming from tampa or orlando has a closer baseball option and a better stadium experience than going to tropicana field. If the rays were in tampa they would attract way more fans. I live in tampa and everyone i talk too says tropicana field is too far. if you want to drive from tampa to st pete you will pass one of the 4 minor league teams before getting to tropicana field so why not go to those stadiums? I keep seeing people bash the rays attendance and blame the fans without even knowing that the tampa area has more pro baseball per square foot than any other area in the world. The problem with rays attendance is there is too much baseball in the area. I literally have friends on facebook who post pics of themselves at these minor league games daily. I like the new stadium idea but until something is done with these minor league teams in the area i dont see many people from tampa driving to st pete to watch a game. it takes me 50 minutes to get to the stadium while it only takes me 20 minutes to get to the Tampa yankees (tarpons) field. It also only takes me 30 minutes to get to the Bradenton pirates (Marauders) stadium. I can also get to the Dunedin Blue jays, and Clearwater Threshers in about 45 minutes. im not sure why nobody brings up these points when talking about attendance. If the tampa area was such a bad area for pro baseball why are there 5 teams separated by 30 miles? The rays or mlb should deal with these teams. Make some move to orlando or another city.

[Kloiyd]

Why do cities need to keep giving money to already rich team owners to build stadiums

[chipwhitley]

They say that the Rays will either pay for most of the new stadium or all of it. I will believe it when I see it though

[MDR]

That new stadium should’ve been built in downtown Tampa/Ybor instead of St Pete.

[johnopal]

You're about to make the same mistake you made in 1990. BUILD IT IN TAMPA!!

[jelambertson]

I live in Tampa and despite the fact that I am a Mets fan and by default a National League fan I implore everybody- please do not take MLB out of west Florida. Miami is a 4 hour drive and I got a speeding ticket 😢 on my way there last year to see a 2 1/2 hr game.

[lk]

Seems to me like the Rays should play day games without the roof until they can get the new stadium built. In general though, having visted Tampa/St. Pete, I love downtown St. Pete but it is a nightmare to get to from Tampa side - they should have built in Tampa if you ask me but their plan for this stadium seems to be a good one for St Pete (smaller stadium, next to entertainment district, etc...)

[CynicalBeard]

That one chart is odd. How does the attendance per game exceed capacity?

[gaggledweasel]

I live 7 minutes from the trop and this is great for st. Petersburg as a city. Tampa honestly couldn't care less about having the rays. St. Pete wanted them back bad and even put forth public money to show it too. Tampa could've gotten them if they fought hard enough but the truth is the just didn't try very hard and st. Pete did. It's a business at the end of the day and I'm sure they picked the option that will work better for them