Ballpark Digest
The Business of Ballparks and Baseball in Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Indy, Summer Collegiate and College
The backbone of any successful MLB franchise is a successful player-development system. And these days successful player development means strong MiLB and spring-training facilities. We rank MLB organizations by the quality of their player-development facilities, updated for 2019. (more…)
In hindsight, Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg believes he could have been more forceful in discussions over a proposed Ybor City ballpark. (more…)
The Tampa Bay Rays will host the country’s first cash-free sports venue in 2019, as Tropicana Field points of sale will accept only credit and gift cards, as well as mobile payments. (more…)
Even though the team has walked away from discussions, Hillsborough County is working for now to keep the door open for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark. (more…)
The Tampa Bay Rays have announced Tropicana Field renovations for 2019, including plans to reduce the fixed seating capacity and create new social spaces. (more…)
We’ve spent a lot of time in the last two weeks reviewing the best of 2018. Now comes the time to turn our attention to 2019. We’ve peered into the crystal ball to compile a list of what we think will generate the most headlines and interest in the New Year. (more…)
We end 2018 with a countdown of the 10 biggest stories of the year on Ballpark Digest, as chosen by editors and partially based on page views. Today, #3: Tampa Bay Rays end their pursuit of an Ybor City ballpark. (more…)
As was expected, the Tampa Bay Rays will not pursue an extension of a December 31 deadline with St. Petersburg, effectively ending their region-wide search for a new ballpark site. (more…)
When the Tampa Bay Rays pulled the plug on development of a new Ybor City ballpark, the stated rationale was a lack of specifics about a funding and site-development plan. But by opening a search for a new site, team ownership may just be delaying inevitable headaches. (more…)
The Tampa Bay Rays have rejected a proposed Ybor City ballpark site as being financially unfeasible, launching a new search for the Tampa Bay area. (more…)
As it tries to sell the Tampa Bay Rays on the proposal, Hillsborough County is asking Major League Baseball to support its funding framework for a new ballpark. (more…)
The Tampa Bay Rays face a deadline in their new ballpark talks, as a Hillsborough County official is calling for them to agree to a term sheet by next spring. (more…)
When it comes to negotiating a funding plan for a new ballpark in Tampa’s Ybor City, a Hillsborough County official says that feedback is needed from the Tampa Bay Rays. (more…)