The design elements of the stadium unveiled Tuesday were dramatic and eye-catching, following the basic coda to "bring the outside in.''
They aren't going to do everything the way you may have hoped, or, to be honest, the way they hoped. The roof won't be retractable and the playing surface will be synthetic turf not natural grass.
But what they showed off Tuesday sure looked promising, aiming to be ready for opening say 2023, which isn't as far away as it sounds.
Mostly because of how much you can see.
Glass exterior walls, with sections that will slide open, like giant French doors, behind home plate and centerfield, offering views of Ybor City to one side and the downtown skyline to the other (oriented so pitchers aren't looking into the setting sun, and so the lower side melds into the Ybor neighborhood), plus fresh air on cool-enough days
A translucent — though not retractable — roof, higher, less opaque and without the underpinnings and dreaded catwalks of the Trop. Concepts for multi-tiered seating and gathering spots that include fountain, picnic, sandbox areas, 17 total. Intimate views throughout as it will be the smallest park in the majors, with 28,216 seats and a total capacity of 30,842 (just less than the current Trop configuration).
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/2018/07/10/peeking-inside-the-rays-stadium-plans/
