CLEARWATER, Florida - For the first time, the ABC Coalition - the group studying the best way to keep baseball in Tampa Bay in the long term - started forming some initial conclusions at its Thursday afternoon meeting.
Among the "rough draft" conclusions presented:
1) Tropicana Field is a "last of an era" stadium and needs to be replaced.
2) A new stadium should cost roughly $500 million and public funding (federal, state, or local) should account for 70-80% of that money.
3) Long-term growth trends (which favor a Hillsborough Co. location) are important to a new stadium site, as are current population demographics (which favor Mid-Pinellas, West Shore, and Downtown Tampa sites).
4) A Fairgrounds or Downtown St. Pete stadium is not in the area's best interest.
5) Baseball is, indeed, feasible in Tampa Bay in the long-term.
To see the entire initial presentation from the ABC Coalition, click here.
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