On Friday I wrote about the Tampa Bay Rays Ballpark Future and questioned the viability of Major League Baseball in Florida. I shared these opinions in the Effectively Wild Facebook group and received the following feedback:
Nolen Bailey This is pretty telling: “It has been 11 years since I visited the Tampa/St. Pete area”
I don’t mean to be rude, but I think it would help quite a bit to take some time to understand the details of the area and the issue before writing articles proclaiming the demise of professional baseball there. “Bridge and Marlins doesn’t cut it”.
If it was JUST the poor location, fine. If it was JUST the hideous, warehouse-esque abomination of a stadium, fine.
But that combination, paired with the utter and complete lack of public transportation on the west coast of Florida is a lethal combination.
We don’t need the Taj Mahal, but if you put even a halfway decent stadium in Tampa proper, bridging the gap between the Channelside and Ybor areas, that can attract not only corporations but young working professionals, that is how you make this work.
The Lightning have enormous support, and when the Buccaneers field a quality product, Ray J is a madhouse as well. But, that said, I see far more Rays gear in this area than those two combined.
Florida has a vibrant baseball history. Miami is another story, but THIS part of Florida can have a vibrant baseball future as well.
But it won’t be in the Trop.
Anthony Lorenzo Nolen Bailey would you like to post on Ballpark Nerd? Would love to share your opinions.
Nolen Bailey Feel free to share. I’ve lived here for 32 years, and I’ve also had the opportunity to go and enjoy 15 other MLB ballparks around the country. I’m no expert, but I can at least speak from experience.
The Tampa Rays Ballpark Future