ABC Coalition Presents Findings On Need For New Rays Ballpark

The ABC Coalition, which is "pressing for a new stadium" for the Rays, "finally got a shot at the public stage Tuesday, presenting 18 months of findings" to the Pinellas County (FL) Commission, according to Stephen Nohlgren of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. The group of community leaders "concluded that Tropicana Field can't generate enough corporate support and revenue to sustain a competitive team." Coalition member Craig Sher: "If we keep the Rays in the existing stadium for the next 17 years, it's kind of a death sentence for baseball." Sher said that the Rays "need a modern, air-conditioned, retractable roof stadium and natural grass." He added that the ballpark's location "should be more central to the region's population and business core." Meanwhile, Sher "suggested that the coalition would disband after a few more presentations." But he said that Pinellas now "could use a sports authority -- with legislative authority and a budget -- similar to the Tampa Sports Authority that built Raymond James Stadium and the St. Pete Times Forum" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/17).