tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1021348172235346593.post7467634630296158782..comments2024-03-03T06:01:35.285-05:00Comments on Shadow of the Stadium: Trib Column on Buckhorn Pitch Misses the MarkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1021348172235346593.post-80813771961439332562011-06-29T22:27:04.429-04:002011-06-29T22:27:04.429-04:00I'm not sure if Tampa would want to join the a...I'm not sure if Tampa would want to join the after work, rush hour traffic to go to Toytown/Carillon. Also, I'm not sure if Toytown/Carillon would support a 1pm, travel-day game. But, the upside is more people within a 30-min drive compared to downtown St Pete. Also, the demographics of Toytown/Carillon is younger and have more money than downtown St Pete.<br /><br />Questions are: 1. Would the Rays want to save buyout money to stay in N St Pete (if that is an option?)? 2. Does the downtown Tampa location allow for greater revenue streams than the Gateway and outweigh buyout? I think so. <br /><br />I believe that the convention center should be the focus in downtown Tampa and that the Rays would draw a greater number of conventions if the team was in downtown. The convention industry would benefit greatly from the Rays. Also, I believe that corporate sponsorship would be greater in Tampa (ie. Sykes, law firms, banks, maybe Hard Rock, Carnival, Publix, Marriott etc.). Rays could benefit sales of the new condos too. <br /><br />All in all, downtown Tampa may be the better deal for the Rays. What do you think?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com