Sunday, September 27, 2015

Why Everyone's Gaga for Toytown

Two quick thoughts on the Tampa Bay Times' most recent Rays-related editorial regarding the tug-of-war between the Braves and Rays over Toytown (that isn't really a tug-of-war at all):
  1. The editorial board summarized the Toytown interest this way: "as usual, the key issue is money."  After spending years putting the emphasis on grabbing great land parcels before they disappear - this may be the first time the board really acknowledges finding the public funds necessary for a new stadium are a bigger problem than finding the land for one.
  2. Have you ever wondered why there's so much fuss over a Toytown site they Rays haven't shown interest in, located in a county so many fans assume the team wants to leave?  Either because the team isn't sure it wants to leave Pinellas....or the Rays simply need Pinellas money in-play to leverage Hillsborough money.  Duh, it's the blueprint. 
I first wrote back in 2009 that if I had to bet on where the next Rays stadium would be built, I'd bet Mid-Pinellas/Toytown because of Pinellas County's available tourist tax.  And there's been little in the last six years to convince me it's not still the frontrunner.




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8 comments:

  1. UnknownSeptember 28, 2015 at 3:31 AM

    "Toytown" provides big interest because of it's undeveloped location more so then for a landing spot for a future stadium...
    Also, Pinellas might have more "tourist tax" money available, but Hillsborough is setting personal records for tourist money, and more importantly have the bigger corp. & county support, and bigger population within a short distance...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. scott myersSeptember 28, 2015 at 8:41 AM

      Hi B. Dufala,
      Please name the companies that comprise the bigger corporate support of Hillsborough County.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2015 at 7:22 AM

    "Either because the team isn't sure it wants to leave Pinellas..."

    NO, the Rays have made it very clear they want out of Pinellas. Very very clear.

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    Replies
    1. RussSeptember 28, 2015 at 3:09 PM

      Don't forget that at one time the pitch perfect site was Al Lang stadium, which is very, very much in Pinellas. Go ya fifty that if the city council and hizzoner were to gift wrap Al Lang Stadium and gave it to $tu, pitch perfect would indeed be in Pinellas.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2015 at 3:46 PM

      That was long time ago. Stu's changed his mind re: Pinellas since then...

      Delete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2015 at 4:09 PM

    The new stadium will be located in Ybor. It's gonna be awesome! It's "in the works" folks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2015 at 4:31 PM

      Oh yeah? Where in Ybor? Plenty of potential places but all of them are problematic...

      Delete
    2. PatSeptember 28, 2015 at 5:30 PM

      Probably near a bank!

      Delete

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