In 2017, the
Tampa Bay Rays of
Major League Baseball (MLB) finished the season with an average paid attendance of 15,477 per game, the lowest in MLB, and a stadium with the lowest capacity in MLB in
Tropicana Field (31,042). The Rays have been looking for a new site to build a stadium, as
St. Petersburg is difficult for fans from
Tampa to access. The architectural firm,
Populous, announced the futuristic ballpark would feature "dramatic" sliding glass walls and a fully enclosed, translucent roof. The park would use
artificial turf. Construction was estimated to cost $892 million. Ballpark construction was estimated at $550 million; the roof would cost approximately $245 million, with about $83 million coming from ancillary infrastructure spending. The construction costs also included a parking garage and pedestrian bridge. The stadium would be a year-round entertainment venue and will not be exclusively used for baseball games. The proposal called for 28,216 seats with a total capacity of 30,842, which would make it the smallest MLB stadium by capacity. However, in December 2018, the project was abruptly cancelled. In 2025, the land developer said the site was still available should the Rays want to build a new ballpark there. == See also ==