Tropicana Field / Thunderdome / Florida Suncoast Dome

[abelorfao]

I just stumbled upon this article describing the initial concept for what became Tropicana Field. A fabric tent would have covered a boomerang-shaped stadium and, like Kauffman Stadium, there would have been a fountain in the outfield. In fact, the concept reminds me of the initial Kauffman Stadium renderings, only with a tent roof instead of the rolling roof.

[zengator]

I just stumbled upon this article describing the initial concept for what became Tropicana Field. A fabric tent would have covered a boomerang-shaped stadium and, like Kauffman Stadium, there would have been a fountain in the outfield. In fact, the concept reminds me of the initial Kauffman Stadium renderings, only with a tent roof instead of the rolling roof.

That photo was discovered a few weeks ago and discussed in the local media. Interesting idea, but the city rejected it because a baseball franchise was far from a certainty at that point and they wanted a building with more flexibility. The TB Lightning and the Final Four and such could not have been hosted in an open-air facility.

The currently proposed waterfront stadium is much better looking, imo, plus the roof/sail can be taken down.

[Tblockboi]

great picture i think the rays are in the right spot for now being in stpete gives so many job oppurtunities and chances for the city of st.pete but, as far for the water front ball park thats so scrapped by me i think it should go where al lopez is but, guys raymond james sits right on top of that section of the field we actually have over twenty places we can build a park i can name the five best spots down town across the river from blake high school home plate facing south east towards down town gives you a giants stadium feel or where thee old tampa stadium sits directly on top of that only that you would be up on raymond james but, who cares al lopez was just as close to old ts!! and you got acres im talking over 100 acres east of the air port abandond blocks of old torn down and vacant warehouses sit you could build four stadiums their and have parking for all four!! and if people comp[lain about traffic and parking which really is a bad thing in st.pete if you leave(early on time) oh (buc & lightning straglers know) !! you could easly build a stadium and sports complex along I4 or at the junction st I75 and I4 meet build a few well planed exit routes along the interstete like kansas city did along time ago and it would be awsome right in the country part of tampa theirs alot of room people!!! and yea go hard at rnovation for trop make roof retractable or spend alot alot on taking the roof of and making the dome wether ready but, it would be much better than building a comic stadium worth to much for to little 30,000 seats for 400 million cough cmon!!!!! we want our moneys worth!!!

[3and0]

That doesn't look like it's the Thunderdome/Suncoast Dome. Compare it to the previous picture that is obviously the Thunderdome. The seating deck looks very different, especially how deep the lower level is and second level.

¥eah, too many fans for a lightning game as well...

[Chevy114]

I feel like no matter what happens with the new stadium, it should be where the people are. Build it in tampa. Tampa sports authority who owns raymond james stadium should step in and use that half cent sales tax we still have for the bucs stadium and help build the park in this city.

I truely believe if they owners just make one comment about wanting to work with tsa and build a stadium anywhere in tampa (i-4, downtown, hillsbourough river, or ray jay areas) it would be done without a hitch!

P.S. Im still trying to find a good shot or two of tampa stadium before they enclosed, back with tampa u played there.

[zengator]

I feel like no matter what happens with the new stadium, it should be where the people are. Build it in tampa. Tampa sports authority who owns raymond james stadium should step in and use that half cent sales tax we still have for the bucs stadium and help build the park in this city.

I truely believe if they owners just make one comment about wanting to work with tsa and build a stadium anywhere in tampa (i-4, downtown, hillsbourough river, or ray jay areas) it would be done without a hitch!

P.S. Im still trying to find a good shot or two of tampa stadium before they enclosed, back with tampa u played there.

There wouldn't be a Rays stadium plan in Tampa for years, if ever. Besides the fact that St. Pete would sue the team for leaving town before the lease is done, the political will isn't there to spend the money right now. And the Bucs will share their cut of tax dollars right after I fly to the moon.

[zengator]

¥eah, too many fans for a lightning game as well...

fwiw, the Lightning still hold the NHL record for (indoor) single-game attendence.

[PeteU]

I feel like no matter what happens with the new stadium, it should be where the people are. Build it in tampa. Tampa sports authority who owns raymond james stadium should step in and use that half cent sales tax we still have for the bucs stadium and help build the park in this city.

I truely believe if they owners just make one comment about wanting to work with tsa and build a stadium anywhere in tampa (i-4, downtown, hillsbourough river, or ray jay areas) it would be done without a hitch!

P.S. Im still trying to find a good shot or two of tampa stadium before they enclosed, back with tampa u played there.

Just double deck Legends--err, I mean Steinbrenner Field and evict the Yankees from it. That would be some poetic justice after all the efforts Steinbrenner made to keep the Yankees' stranglehold on the Tampa Bay area even after the Rays came to town.

Hey, we can dream, can't we?

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Sorry, no early shots of the Trop/Suncoast Dome, as they are tough to find. Here's some more recent ones, though.

Lance Armstrong Day 2004










ENLARGE




Atrium.


Vintage '60's shot of the Trop

[J.R.]

Why does this team continue to tarp off the uppermost seating areas? They could actually sell those seats now.

[KidChaos]

I think that chevy114 meant Tampa/Houlihan's Stadium ,former home Of Tampa U and The Bucs and he wanted pics from before they made it The "Big Sombrero".

[efin98]

Why does this team continue to tarp off the uppermost seating areas? They could actually sell those seats now.

Attendance is still below 15,000-20,000 for the big majority of games so there isn't a need yet to open up those seats until the demand holds on...

[Chevy114]

If st. pete sues tampa sports should pay it, it would be a good long term investment to have local baseball. I agree they should take over legends, I just wish it was that easy!

[zengator]

Attendance is still below 15,000-20,000 for the big majority of games so there isn't a need yet to open up those seats until the demand holds on...

Um, no.

Since June 1st, the Rays have played 13 games at home. Attendence has been under 20K exactly 3 times, and 2 of those were 19K+. In contrast, they've had over twice as many crowds of 30K+ (7) during that span, with another one at 29K, giving an average attendence of 28K+.

Although I know RedSox Nation must be a little disoriented right now, let's try to keep the facts straight...

[efin98]

Um, no.

Since June 1st, the Rays have played 13 games at home. Attendence has been under 20K exactly 3 times, and 2 of those were 19K+. In contrast, they've had over twice as many crowds of 30K+ (7) during that span, with another one at 29K, giving an average attendence of 28K+.

You only looked for one month, I looked at the attendence for every game so far this season not counting the ones in Orlando- they drew best on Saturday home games, the Cubs series, and both Red Sox series. All others they were under 20,000 most games and under under 15,000 against the terrible teams.

Although I know RedSox Nation must be a little disoriented right now, let's try to keep the facts straight...

Don't be an ass. You looked at one month, I looked at the entire season. The rest of the year is dragging the average down. With the west and central division teams and teams under .500 taking up most of the rest of the home games that average isn't gonna improve much.

[six4three]

We'll see.

I know that Rays fans keep saying that "the bump comes the year after being a good team", but it also ought to be reflected in the second half's attendance.

The team is on fire. Lots of home games left to raise that average.

[zengator]

You only looked for one month, I looked at the attendence for every game so far this season not counting the ones in Orlando- they drew best on Saturday home games, the Cubs series, and both Red Sox series. All others they were under 20,000 most games and under under 15,000 against the terrible teams.



Don't be an ass. You looked at one month, I looked at the entire season. The rest of the year is dragging the average down. With the west and central division teams and teams under .500 taking up most of the rest of the home games that average isn't gonna improve much.

This is what you said: "Attendance is still below 15,000-20,000 for the big majority of games." Using the word "still" implies that attendance is "below 15,000-20,000" now and recently. Obviously, you're absolutely wrong.

And a full month is a long enough stretch of the season to see a definite upward trend. If you look inside the numbers (you might try looking at them at all before typing next time), you'd see that the Rays had a home series vs the Marlins in June. Last year, that series drew around 10K per game. This year, it averaged over 20K.

If pointing out an arrogant Bostonian's obvious misstatements about my home team makes me an "ass", go ahead and pin on a tail.

[efin98]

This is what you said: "Attendance is still below 15,000-20,000 for the big majority of games." Using the word "still" implies that attendance is "below 15,000-20,000" now and recently. Obviously, you're absolutely wrong.

And a full month is a long enough stretch of the season to see a definite upward trend. If you look inside the numbers (you might try looking at them at all before typing next time), you'd see that the Rays had a home series vs the Marlins in June. Last year, that series drew around 10K per game. This year, it averaged over 20K.

So ignore the draw the rest of the year because it doesn't support that it's over 20,000 people per game average?...One good month sure makes up for two bad to mediocre months at the gate

Look at the figures on www.baseball-reference.com The figures there state that so far for the year for Tampa Bay through 45 games has drawn in roughly 932,905 fans. That's about 20,700 fans per game for the full year. Tonight finally puts them over 21,000 fans for the year.

[zengator]

So ignore the bad draw the rest of the year because it doesn't support your claims...one good month makes up for five bad to mediocre months at the gate

Um, no.

Your Claim = attendance still sucks

The Facts = attendance is up considerably, even against teams that traditionally don't draw

Another Fact = the RedSox are 0-6 in the Trop

[efin98]

Um, no.

Your Claim = attendance still sucks

The Facts = attendance is up considerably, even against teams that traditionally don't draw

Another Fact = the RedSox are 0-6 in the Trop

I give up, you clearly won't see past your own fandom...

[zengator]

I give up, you clearly won't see past your own fandom...

It's nothing to do with "fandom". You said something that was demonstrably wrong. I correct you. The end.

[efin98]

It's nothing to do with "fandom". You said something that was demonstrably wrong. I correct you. The end.

I give up. I serious give up. Keep ignoring the rest of the year if you want, we will see at the end of the year if they could sustain the 30,000 per game or if I was right and they are still averaging 21,000 per game despite the successful month.

[zengator]

I give up. I serious give up. Keep ignoring the rest of the year if you want, we will see at the end of the year if they could sustain the 30,000 per game or if I was right and they are still averaging 21,000 per game despite the successful month.

Way to move home plate there, bro. You said "15,000 - 20,000" in your original post; now your Arbitrary Number of Judgement is 21K. I looked it up.

But in any case, the Rays will average above 21K/per for the remainder of the season, imo.

[efin98]

Way to move home plate there, bro. You said "15,000 - 20,000" in your original post; now your Arbitrary Number of Judgement is 21K. I looked it up.

But in any case, the Rays will average above 21K/per for the remainder of the season, imo.

If you can't do simple math when the numbers are provided for you then I'm sorry for you but the fact is they are averaging 21,000 fans for the year regardless of the June upswing.

[zengator]

If you can't do simple math when the numbers are provided for you then I'm sorry for you but the fact is they are averaging 21,000 fans for the year regardless of the June upswing.

Ok, last time. You keep changing your point. Let's recap:

Your 1st post: the Rays don't need all the seats in the Trop since "Attendance is still below 15,000-20,000 for the big majority of games"


My reply: Actually, they're averaging well over that over the past month. Here are the numbers... ###



Your 2nd post: I said for the whole season. And they don't / won't draw very well against the weaker teams.


My 2nd reply: You said "still", not all season. And they have drawn well against weaker teams. Here are the numbers... ###


Your latest posts: You are a homer. Clearly, I said that the average for the season in 21K.


My reply: Um, that's not what you said. In any case, that average will continue to increase.


Your next post??? LIKE I KEEP SAYING, THE SKY IS BLUE!!! STOP DENYING IT, YOU HOMER!