St. Petersburg eyes Al Lang expansion, spring training potential
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A rendering by design firm ASD | SKY of a potential expansion of Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Pete. Image: City of St. Petersburg
A proposal earlier this year to demolish Al Lang Stadium landed with a thud.
Why it matters: City officials are now considering expanding it.
State of play: A new plan presented to City Council members last week suggests building a three-story, 36,000-square-foot facility for lockers, concessions and a rooftop restaurant at the waterfront home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
- The team's lease at the stadium is up next year. City officials hope the improvements could keep the team in the city long-term, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
What they're saying: "The team as of this moment does want to remain in St. Petersburg," Beth Herendeen, managing director of city development, told Council members.
- "And that's what we want, is for the team to stay in St. Petersburg."
The intrigue: The plan also notes the stadium's potential as "a future spring training location — should the Rays depart."
- The team's new owners said this week they're evaluating "a handful" of sites in Tampa Bay for a new stadium.
- The Rays will play at Tropicana Field, which is undergoing repairs from Hurricane Milton damage, through at least the 2028 season.
Yes, but: Spring training facilities take a lot of land, per the Times.
- A typical complex has several practice fields, a weight room, a clubhouse and more. There isn't space for that at Al Lang.
The big picture: The discussion over the soccer stadium came amid a broader visioning session for the Center for the Arts, a waterfront district that encompasses the stadium, the Mahaffey Theater and the Dalí Museum.
- Other possible upgrades to the area presented by design consultant ASD | SKY included building a five-story center for the Florida Orchestra and adding more green space between buildings.
- Consultants also discussed redesigning Al Lang's parking lot — home of the Saturday Morning Market from October through May — into a "versatile outdoor event venue."
Between the lines: Cost is a major hurdle to carrying out the upgrades, several City Council members noted.
- The presentation put the estimated price tag of the Al Lang upgrades at $49.2 million, while the rest of the plan came in at $243.8 million.
What's next: Consultants will return to the Council next year with more details on the potential cost and revenue projections.