Tamps Bay Rays' 1st spring training pitch is to St. Petersburg officials

PORT CHARLOTTE — Seeing the Tampa Bay Rays' new spring home Wednesday, St. Petersburg City Council member Wengay Newton couldn't help but wonder about the prospects of a new ballpark in his city.

"You can see what's possible," said Newton, staring out over the nearly sold-out Charlotte Sports Park during the second inning of the opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

Newton and five other City Council members made the 90-minute drive Wednesday to see the Rays' newly renovated $27.2 million spring training facility.

Officially, the invitation from the Rays was a courtesy.

Unofficially, the trip was a soft lobby of what could be back in St. Petersburg.

Though talk about replacing Tropicana Field has quieted since summer, it's not gone away.

"We know how to build baseball stadiums," principal owner Stuart Sternberg said, smiling. "We know what fans want."

Council members — who paid for their seats — were impressed by the new ballpark, which includes an outfield boardwalk and tiki bar, a kids play area along the rightfield line and grass berms near the foulpoles.

But they stopped short of treating the Charlotte Sports Park like a new toy they had to have themselves.

"I've always had confidence they would know how to build a good stadium," said City Council member Jeff Danner, dressed in a Rays home white jersey. "The question (for St. Petersburg) is where and how to pay for it."

Added City Council member Jamie Bennett: "There's all the issues — from money to how it looks, whether it has a retractable roof or not to where it goes. That's a lot to deal with. But if they work with us, I think we can start to get there."

The story of the Charlotte Sports Park is good place to start, team officials say.

The facility's cost was shared by the state, Charlotte County and the team. Charlotte County is paying for the bulk of the project — about 54 percent — through a tourism tax.

The Rays' contribution amounts to about 13 percent; a state grant is paying for the final third of the work. (The Rays say they are contributing more because more of their money is coming up front).

Charlotte County Commissioner Tricia Duffy called the collaboration a true partnership. The county had a voice on everything from the color scheme and design to the actual construction, she said.

"Together we took a diamond in the rough and turned it into this fantastic field of dreams," Duffy said.

The stadium, which seats more than 6,000, opened on time and on budget, team officials said. Ticket sales have been brisk.

Al Lang Field, the Rays' former spring home, had about 300 season ticket holders for spring games. The number is closer to 3,000 in Charlotte County.

Newton said Wednesday that the Charlotte ballpark reminded him of the Rays' $450 million proposal to build a permanent stadium at Al Lang Field, right down to the awnings shading parts of the ballpark.

"It really does keep it cooler," he said, referring to the Rays proposal to cover the field with a fabric sail.

Along with Newton, Danner and Bennett, City Council members Jim Kennedy, Leslie Curran and Bill Dudley made the trip.

"They know how to do it right," said Dudley, standing near the Rays' bullpen. "It's bittersweet that we're not at Al Lang Field right now, but after seeing this place, I can understand why the Rays did what they did."