Fans, business owners react to Rays leaving St. Pete: 'A big change'
Fans react to Rays stadium decision
Friday's vote may mean a new chapter for the City of Tampa, but it's the beginning of the end of an era in St. Pete. While the team has a couple more years at the Trop, the city will have to start thinking about a future without the Rays. FOX 13's Blake DeVine reports.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - As the Tampa Bay Rays move closer to a $2.3 billion ballpark in Tampa, St. Pete businesses surrounding Tropicana Field are preparing for a new reality without the team.
St. Pete business perspective
Big picture view:
For nearly three decades, Rays home games have brought fans along with big business for restaurants and bars in downtown St. Petersburg.
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The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since their inaugural season in 1998. Their search for a new stadium has stretched on for more than two decades, with several proposals falling apart along the way.
On Friday night, fans filed into Tropicana Field to watch Tampa Bay take on the San Diego Padres. Across the street, plenty of people gathered at Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill to watch the ballgame.
Longtime owner Mark Ferguson remains cautiously optimistic. He says Rays home games only account for 30% of his overall business.
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"It's really a shame the Rays didn't even look at Tropicana Field," Ferguson said. "It's going to be completely different in four years with all the people around here."
Changes to downtown St. Pete
What they're saying:
He hopes the Gas Plant District is redeveloped in a way that keeps foot traffic downtown. One idea he supports is converting Tropicana Field into a convention center.
"Anything you can bring to a downtown area that's walkable," Ferguson said. "People will come from all over to vacation here and enjoy our property here."
Rays fan David Mols believes the team’s departure will be a major change for downtown St. Pete businesses.
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"I mean, they're taking away the team," he said. "They're right across the street, so it's going to be a big change for them."
The other side:
Rays fan Nick DiStasi was walking into the ballpark with his son. He supports the move to Tampa.
"We think it's fantastic, it's close to where all the action is," he said. "If you look at the other stadiums that are in the city."
Lavonna Witt regularly makes a 2.5-hour drive from the Orlando area with her mother to cheer on the Rays.
"It's just physically closer in Tampa," she said. "I know they have businesses and everything that supports the local home field."
Rays stadium plans
What's next:
The Rays current lease with the City of St. Petersburg runs through the 2028 season. If the new stadium stays on schedule, the team will open the 2029 season in Tampa.
The Source: Information for this story came from statements from Tampa Bay Rays, interview with the owner of Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill, interviews with baseball fans and previous reporting on FOX 13.