TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Stadium Fans, Foes Speak Out

ADVERTISEMENT

By B.C. MANION

bmanion@tampatrib.com

Published: October 28, 2008

Updated: 10/28/2008 11:25 pm

TAMPA - Backers of a proposed professional soccer stadium think it makes perfect sense to build it next to the Veterans Expressway, off Waters Avenue and Benjamin Road.

But opponents don't like the idea one bit.

Both sides got their say during a rezoning hearing Monday night on the proposed Tampa Bay Rowdies stadium that Andrew Nestor, David Laxer and Hinds Howard want to open in 2010. It would open with 5,000 seats and expand to nearly 10,000.

Besides professional soccer games, the stadium is a likely venue for college and high school soccer championships and small concerts.

Attorney Vin Marchetti, appearing on the owners' behalf, urged approval of the project, citing numerous conditions aimed at reducing impacts from traffic, noise and stadium lights.

Rosemarie Middleton, president of the Twelve Oaks Civic Association, said her neighborhood opposes the stadium because of those issues. They're especially worried about traffic cutting through on Barry Road to get to and from games and other events, she said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT