Hagan: “The new Braves stadium should be the template for a Rays home in Tampa.”

By
James Williams
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Hagan tells Riley that Atlanta is the probable template for a new Rays ball park in Hillsborough County.

Yesterday, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan was a guest on Sports Talk Florida with Rock Riley. Hagan, is one of the most passionate supporters of moving the Tampa Bay Rays to Hillsborough County as soon as possible.

The template for the new Rays stadium would the new Sun Trust Park in suburban Atlanta. According to Hagan he was very impressed with the way Sun Trust Park that was built in a mere two years and four months.

Hagan told Riley that he was impressed with how quickly the area around the park was developed. While it is far from complete it has a number of restaurants, along with some business and apartment complexes open for business and more coming online monthly.

As to where the proposed new Rays stadium would be Hagan, didn’t want to give away any secrets but he did say that somewhere with easy downtown access like Channelside or Ybor City would be prime candidates for the new ball park.

He hoped to bring a plan out soon naming the exact area where the new Rays home would be in Hillsborough County.

While, Hagan was quick to say that he had not spoken with any specificity to Rays owner Stuart Sternberg about his finding, he was going to chat with team president Brian Auld, informally soon.

Hagan was clear that both Sternberg and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rod Manfred were committed to staying in the Bay Area long term. Also, while the Rays have been careful not to upset St. Petersburg it, Hillsborough County, is by far the best place for the team in the long run and that he is committed to bringing the team to Tampa, soon.

Hagan was also very complimentary to the Lightning and the Tampa Sports Commission for landing the 2018 NHL All Star Game.

LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW BELOW

ALSO YOU CAN HEAR – The Erik Kuselias Show weekday mornings from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on WHBO AM 1040 in the Tampa Bay area.  

VIDEO FROM Panasonic.

James Williams
Jim Williams is the Washington Bureau Chief, Digital Director as well as the Director of Special Projects for Genesis Communications. He is starting his third year as part of the team. This is Williams 40th year in the media business, and in that time he has served in a number of capacities. He is a seven time Emmy Award winning television producer, director, writer and executive. He has developed four regional sports networks, directed over 2,000 live sporting events including basketball, football, baseball hockey, soccer and even polo to name a few sports. Major events include three Olympic Games, two World Cups, two World Series, six NBA Playoffs, four Stanley Cup Playoffs, four NCAA Men’s National Basketball Championship Tournaments (March Madness), two Super Bowl and over a dozen college bowl games. On the entertainment side Williams was involved s and directed over 500 concerts for Showtime, Pay Per View and MTV Networks.