St. Petersburg to explore demolishing Tampa Bay Rowdies stadium
Under a conceptual plan presented to City Council members on Thursday, Al Lang would be turned into an outdoor amphitheater.
St. Petersburg officials have long wished to better connect the Mahaffey Theater and the Dalí Museum and create a more cohesive space with curb appeal. But the proposal to get rid of Al Lang Stadium, the next-door home of Tampa Bay Rowdies, the minor league soccer team owned by the Tampa Bay Rays, alarmed City Council members.
'I'm struggling with totally removing Al Lang Stadium,' said council chairperson Copley Gerdes. 'A stadium which is 80 years old with a massive amount of history especially when we're contemplating the future of the Historic Gas Plant and what that might look like.'
The proposal comes weeks after the Rays announced that they were pulling out of plans to build a new $1.3 billion downtown stadium for the baseball team. It included plans to redevelop the Gas Plant district, a historically Black part of St. Petersburg once located at the Rays' current home, Tropicana Field.
Relations have soured between Welch and Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, with the mayor saying he would never again negotiate with Sternberg. Council members wondered whether team ownership had been consulted about the Al Lang proposal.
'It seems like they weren't included at all,' said council member Richie Floyd. 'I just wondered what the thought process was for what seems like a major partner there, for their future not to be implicated in this.'
Beth Herendeen, managing director of city development, said she has spoken with Rowdies President Ryan Helfrick. She said the city is currently working on a lease renewal for the Rowdies, whose current contract at Al Lang expires later this year.
'They're involved and they're aware,' she said.
Demolition of Al Lang would take place sometime after 2028, according to the proposal presented to council members on Thursday. Plans also include building a 400-car garage and a new facility for the Florida Orchestra. The amphitheater would be comparable to the BayCare Sound in Clearwater 'but way better,' said ASD | Sky consultant John Curran.
Council members expressed interest in plans to redevelop the Center of the Arts. But getting rid of Al Lang Stadium, a site that once hosted spring training games, didn't go over well.
'That made my eye twitch a little bit because I can't imagine not having Al Lang Stadium. I can't imagine not having the Rowdies,' said council member Gina Driscoll, who represents downtown.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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