Times Poll: 82% of Voters Deem Parking "Huge Problem"

Aaron Sharockman of the St. Petersburg Times drops this teaser today for a poll the newspaper conducted for its Sunday edition. The one morsel he released indicated that 82% of voters within the City of St. Petersburg think downtown parking is a "huge problem" for the stadium plan. Other questions for the 601 registered St. Petersburg voters dealt with their opinions on whether the stadium matter should be placed on the ballot at all, and whether they supported the proposal. The results from those questions will be in Sunday's Times.

about 1 year ago Patrick L. Kennedy 10 comments 0 recs |

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My main concern too

I have attempted to give every side of the issue a chance. The team really has to do more here. My ultimate concern is the lack of price controls for the parking, with less spots in theory, they could charge more for a parking spot, let alone a private citizen and also the price of a game ticket could be affected by this. Hey, I am not saying there isn’t some thought here, but as far as the project goes, this is important. Why not add a multi story, multi-tier parking garage at Bayfront Arena or Mahaffey to help? Just concerned for the small guy on this, because as seen before, there is way too much emotion on this issue.

Joe

by joedobr on May 31, 2008 12:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A point on your perspective

Did you know it costs $50 to part at the Coleseum for a University of Southern California game, and $20 to park a mile away? They have small parking facility there near the stadium so prices are outrageous for anybody who needs to drive and park.

The parking situation is my major concern as well for the new stadium because from what I can see don’t really intend on building an on-facility parking. At the same time, my honest opinion as to why the area around the Trop failed to develop is because of the parking; namely the Rays have WAY TOO MUCH PARKING at the Trop. Even with 35,000 people coming to the game tonight, the vast majority of them are going to be parking in the Rays parking lots next to the Trop. Nobody has to walk anywhere to get to the stadium, and nobody has any incentive to stick around after the game is over because it’s pretty easy to get back to your car.

The Rays need to make sure that they don’t make parking too easy at the new park, yet convince residents that there is going to be enough parking.

by kericr on May 31, 2008 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Football parking is always more expensive

It can be so when they only play 8-9 home games a year.

by GomesSweetGomes on May 31, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is wrong with being easy?

You have to consider they got too much parking because the stadium is designed to hold about 44,000 fans and not 35,000 which is now considered a sellout. I have to maintain as a main caveat they have to do something with the Bayfront or Mahaffey with a multistory garage because who is to say that a private owner couldn’t gouge a fan to park at their facility? To get some of those parking revenues is HUGE for the Rays, because I feel, in my opinion, it will act as a counterweight for them to increase ticket prices. I am of a minority opinion when I say I don’t like the capacity of the new ballpark, let alone with what they have done with the Trop.

As far as L.A. goes, its what the market bears. Its simple supply and demand. You also got outrageous politicians who won’t go to bat and try to give the school more incentive to control the situation. Everyone has a right to make money, but at what point is it unfair? Care to equate with the overspeculation of today’s gasoline prices? How much is real and how much is inflated? Good points, also you have to have business besides Ferg’s for the real “development” of the area around the ballpark.

Joe

by joedobr on May 31, 2008 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

parking garage

A parking garage could be built at the redeveloped Trop site, with shuttle busses available.

by zeng8r on May 31, 2008 2:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm beginning to like an alternative idea

Demolish Al Lang, put a new performing arts center on the north end of its property, and build a retractable roof facility on the Mahaffey Center property with a huge garage between.

It would eliminate the DEP worries by not needing any landfill, either.

Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; but if a thing is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.

by Orlando Rays on May 31, 2008 9:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That wouldn't make sense

The City of St. Petersburg just renovated Mahaffey Theater two years ago at considerable cost. They built a new atrium overlooking Tampa Bay, they upgraded the lobby area, and they completely renovated the exterior. It looks very nice.

In addition, money has already been earmarked and construction is set to begin very soon on a new Salvador Dali Museum on the open plot of grass that used to be the Bayfront Center. The entire complex is known as the “Progress Energy Center for the Arts”. So unfortunately, the rest of the site has already been spoken for.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on May 31, 2008 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't see what you said

You are correct here, and if true, then you got a big problem. USF St. Pete will want to protect their parking spaces, and I can’t think of another spot to put a multi-tier multistory garage.

Joe

by joedobr on May 31, 2008 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Going to a Rays game right now is essentially as cheap as seeing a movie. It shouldn’t be. This is MLB. With a new stadium prices will go up and it will cost more to park. That is just a fact of life. Of course the Rays do have a plan for the parking and there will be more than enough of it. This is just more proof that the residents of St Pete are ill informed, or they are believing the POWW bullspit.

by matthan on May 31, 2008 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Your argument

It is arguments like yours, with all due respect, is what makes this issue so hostile. I got a question for you, when does perception become reality? If 82% of people believe something, regardless if its true or not, not just talking about the new stadium parking, then when do you concede you got a problem? My problems stem from traffic flow with a lack of parking, bottlenecking existing traffic and having fans going in circles trying to find parking. Ok, then, so why haven’t the Rays have shown that plan for the parking and have not at least proposed a multistory garage near or at Mahaffey/Bayfront?

My protesting does NOT mean I am not a fan of this team. I want this to be done smart. I knew at some point the club would be proposing a new stadium proposal. Why do I get the impression that this was rushed? I don’t doubt the figures I have read, but I for one wished that they waited about 2-3 years. Even as a Pinellas resident, I can see the merits of the proposal. However, I think the stadium location is not conducive to get a maximum turnout. Heck, say what you want about Peter Gammons, but even he is against the stadium location because of it not being in Hillsborough.

Hey, they are going to do what they want to do. I just hope there is some diligence here, and I pray for the sake of sanity that a lot of the hostility comes out of this debate. If it doesn’t, then this proposal is going to be doomed.

Joe

by joedobr on May 31, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs