... are doomed to repeat it. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say in this case that they are DOMED to repeat it.

http://majorleaguedowntown.com/default.aspx

For those like me who love a new ballpark unveiling, the folks in Tampa unveiled their vision for a new ballpark near the water. Talk has been of this ballpark for a few weeks now, a 34,000 seat stadium with a roof composed of a sail-like material.

Well those of us who are suspicious of such things begin laughing... a roof covering a 34,000 stadium that is made of a sail-like material you say? Well, if you click on the link above you'll see renderings, but all you have to do is see the front page and those of us who are any older than a few years old may be struck by what we first believe to be deja vu. It's not deja vu, it's freaking Stade Olympique, the ballpark built for the Montreal Expos that was a colossal disaster.

Let us recall an ugly, cavernous ballpark that was a total pit. Let us recall a massive concrete beam (55 tons according to my google search) that came crashing to the field and resulted in a few extra games at Wrigley in 1991. Let us recall a ridiculously poorly designed roof that ultimately was no longer able to be removed.

So to the Devil Rays, the local and state governments in Florida, go ahead and build your stadium, but realize that this is a bad idea, unless you want to spend $400M+ just to have the rest of the country laugh at you. Go back to the drawing board. This has been done once and it was a bad idea.

DmL