The World Baseball Classic, El Paso, new Yankee Stadium and the future of the Tampa Bay Rays were on the minds of Ballpark Digest readers this week. The most popular stories on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Israel preps for WBC PCL approves El Paso purchase of T-Padres New Yankee Stadium less intimidating? […]
Tag Archives | tampa bay rays
Rays: We’ll talk new ballpark with Hillsborough County
Tampa Bay Rays ownership says they’ll sit down with Hillsborough County to discuss a new ballpark — even as St. Petersburg officials hint at legal action to keep the team at Tropicana Field. Yesterday Hillsborough County commissioners voted 5-2 to invite the Rays ownership, as well as reps from St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, for […]
Hillsborough County: Nothing legally bars us from talking new ballpark with Rays
Despite the insistence from St. Petersburg officials that the Tampa Bay Rays are barred from talking new ballpark with anyone else, Hillsborough County legal staff says they can enter talks whenever they want. The legal decision really comes down to some basic contract law: since Hillsborough County (which includes Tampa) isn’t a party to the […]
New Yankee Stadium less intimidating? ESPN thinks so
The old Yankee Stadium was regarded by opposing players as one of the toughest places to compete. Today, it seems, the new Yankee Stadium is less than intimidating. In the old ballpark, fans could affect the outcome of a game, even when they lacked the ability to throw batteries from the right-field seats. Some well-placed […]
Newly available land parcel could bring downtown Tampa ballpark — maybe
It’s not as though there are plenty of downtown Tampa land parcels suitable for a new ballpark, but the potential move of a large flour mill could get things rolling for a new Tampa Bay Rays facility. A mill owned and operated by ConAgra is a major presence in downtown Tampa in many ways: besides […]
The Week That Was: July 15
Tampa Bay attendance woes, MLB TV contracts, a new El Paso ballpark and spring training made news this week. The most popular stories of the past seven days on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Selig: Rays attendance is “inexcusable” NBC vying for piece of MLB media-rights pie? El Paso: Let’s sell Cohen Stadium […]
Selig: Rays attendance is “inexcusable”
Taking a shot aimed more toward apathetic fans than the forces preventing a new ballpark, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said the Tampa Bay Rays attendance — or lack thereof — is “inexcusable.” Speaking at his annual press conference during All-Star festivities, the commissioner noted the Rays were 29th in MLB attendance (20,582 fans a game) […]
The Week That Was: July 1
Fauxback and sponsored uniforms, new ballparks in El Paso and Hillsboro, and Mother Nature impacting ballparks across the country. The most popular stories on Ballpark Digest, measured by page views. Rays to go retro — before team existed The first pro baseball team to sport uniform sponsor logos? Rockford Municipal Stadium / San Jose Giants […]
Stray bullet grazes Rays fan at Tropicana Field
Well, this is a new one: a fan attending a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field was grazed by a falling bullet that most likely came through the roof of the covered ballpark. The fan, Charles Sweatt, was watching the Rays game when he felt a sting in his right thigh. He didn’t think much […]
Yankees on the market? Daily News says yes, Steinbrenner says no
Hal Steinbrenner is denying a New York Daily News report that the New York Yankees, in the wake of the $2B sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers, may be headed for a sale. It’s really a simple matter: The Daily News is reporting that the Steinbrenner family has been exploring the possible value of the team, […]
MLB teams plan Earth Day activities
No matter the team colors, many Major League Baseball teams and ballparks are going green this weekend to mark Earth Day. Many teams have already instituted green programs in their ballparks — Target Field is a LEED-certified building, the Giants and Royals installed solar panels at their homes, the Nationals have an elaborate cistern system […]
Luke Scott: Fenway Park is a “dump”
Here’s your flamebait for the day: Tampa Bay Rays DH Luke Scott says Fenway Park is a dump, as the Boston Red Sox prepare to open their 100th year at the historic ballpark. In an interview with MLB.com, Scott wasn’t shy about expressing his opinion about the beloved ballpark, where the Rays will help launch the home season for the […]
Immigration funds eyed for new Rays ballpark
Following Oakland’s lead, Tampa officials are looking at putting together a ballpark deal based on foreign investments based on the federal EB-5 visa program — a long shot at best. EB-5 is essentially a program that allowed a foreign citizen to “buy” U.S. citizenship by investing a million dollars into a U.S. corporation. It’s been […]