Stadium Central

As the Marlins continue to await word on the possibility of a new stadium in South Florida, the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays announced plans for a new open-air stadium to be built along the waterfront in St. Petersburg (see USA Today article). It is still a long way till Tampa will be breaking ground, but it is a welcome move to replace the worst stadium in Major League Baseball. The innovative design features a sail-like covering for the seating area and measures that promise to decrease the temperature by 8-10 degrees for the fans. The challenge in making an open-air stadium work amid the late summer heat and thunderstorms in Florida will be a great one for the Rays to overcome should this stadium project move forward. The location of the stadium next to the water will be reminiscent of AT&T park in San Francisco, and the sail will provide a distinct look to the 34,000 seat stadium.