Truist Park and the surrounding Battery is a model that has been praised by organizations across multiple sports since it's opening in 2017. Atlanta Braves fans flood the Battery and Truist Park routinely, and it's success has created a template that other teams are eager to follow.
The team that everyone has pointed to that is in need of a new stadium is the AL East Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays were forced to play at the Yankees spring training site last year after damages to Tropicana Field. The Trop has long been bashed for it's hard to access location, and weird ballpark dimensions. Thankfully, the Rays organization can finally move forward with a new stadium plan now that the team has new ownership.
Rays looking to copy Braves Battery model and have new stadium by 2029
One of the Tampa Bay Rays new leadership, Managing Partner and Co-Chair Patrick Zalupski mentioned the Braves specifically when discussing the desired model for a new stadium for the Rays. “The Atlanta Braves have been incredibly generous with their time and resources to let us look at The Battery,” Zalupski said. “We think The Battery is the gold standard for what we want to build here in Tampa Bay.”
The new ownership of the Rays spoke breifly about the vision they have for a new stadium, which they hope to move in by 2029. The Rays are contracted to play at least three more seasons at Tropicana Field, but ownership assured fans that upgrades will be made so that fan experience is improved as the team looks to transition into a new home.
The Rays aren't the only team to praise the Braves model for constructing a stadium that can thrive outside of baseball season. Tampa Bay is an organization that is starved for stability and upgrades for what has been a loyal fanbase. The Rays often field good baseball teams despite low payroll rosters on a year to year basis. Hopefully, this new ownership group will inch towards fielding a better team and building a new stadium Rays fans can be proud of.