The 7,500-seat venue has been an iconic landmark in the city. Debuting in 1923, the city’s first baseball game was held there and from 1947, it functioned as a professional stadium able to hold major games. Since 2011, soccer team it has been the homebase of the Rowdies, which is owned by the Tampa Bay Rays.
The proposed convention center—long considered a missing civic amenity—was also part of the reimagined Gas Plant District vision, the future of which remains uncertain.
Committee members also discussed featuring work by local artists in the proposed public park and that it could serve as an alternate location for the Saturday Morning Market.
Next, the plans will be presented to community stakeholders, including neighborhood groups and organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. ASD | SKY will then update city staff based on public feedback.
If the project moves forward, the city will need to coordinate with the annual Firestone Grand Prix to accommodate the race’s track and paddock. The annual event, which winds through downtown and includes part of the Albert Whitted Airport, generates over $60 million in benefits and draws nearly 200,000 visitors.
Additionally, any construction in the Center for the Arts District must avoid disrupting nearby museums.