Tampa Bay Rays Submit Preliminary Design Consideration Document to City

03/11/2008, ST. PETERSBURG -- The Tampa Bay Rays today submitted a Preliminary Design Consideration Document to the City of St. Petersburg. Concepts highlighted in this document include ballpark roof and façade design, the relationship of the proposed ballpark to the surrounding community, potential public amenities, streetscape improvement ideas and sustainability goals.

"This Preliminary Design Consideration Document illustrates how the Rays new ballpark will respect and enhance the rich history of baseball on the Al Lang site and its dynamic downtown waterfront location; we expect this project will mean as much to downtown St Petersburg as most of our other projects have meant to their communities" said Joe Spear, Founding Senior Principal of HOK Sport

Article continues below...

Together, the Rays and HOK set the following principles to guide conceptual design:
• Activate the waterfront - get baseball back to the bay
• Preserve waterfront access and views
• Integrate seamlessly into surrounding downtown environs
• Create street activity on the southern edge of downtown, anchored by ancillary retail, public art and public parkland
• Create significant, publicly-accessible open space
• Improve links between the cultural district to the south and park system to the north
• Provide an intimate baseball venue within a dynamic urban setting
• Build on the tradition of environmentally sustainable, cutting-edge urban design
• Create an iconic piece of architecture that defines the City and the Rays
• Complement the Rays commitment to environmental responsibility.

"We look forward to continuing the public dialogue and refining the concepts for what we think will be a great amenity for the entire community," said Michael Kalt, the Rays Senior Vice President, Development and Business Affairs.

To view or download a copy of the Preliminary Design Consideration Document or for more information on the Rays' waterfront ballpark and the potential redevelopment of Tropicana Field, please visit majorleaguedowntown.com.

The Preliminary Design Consideration Document can also be viewed or downloaded at stpete.org.

Source: MLB