Last month, a real estate developer announced that he wanted to propose a new stadium in the Gateway area of St. Pete, west of the Howard Frankenstein Bridge (click on image at right). And while it is unclear if the Rays will be listening, according to the Tampa Bay Times, Rays fans will get their first look next week, at what could be the future home of the Rays…

The public will see designs for a privately designed stadium during a “special council meeting” on Sept. 28 at the Hilton hotel in the Carillon area…CityScape, a firm owned by real estate developer Darryl LeClair, wants to build the stadium in the Carillon business park just west of the Howard Frankland Bridge in the Gateway area. LeClair controls roughly 12 acres of vacant land there where a stadium could fit.

When we first heard about the new stadium proposal, the designs were said to be of an “enclosed stadium that can be air conditioned, with options for both a solid roof and a retractable one.”

But will the Rays be listening? Maybe.

Michael Kalt, the Rays V.P. Of Stadium Messes, has been “quietly meeting” with Pinellas County Commissioners. This is important because it is the commissioners that would have to approve a new stadium in Pinellas County.

However, one commissioner described her meeting as “very short” and “just about getting to know each other.” Another called it a “chit-chat session.” And Mayor Bill Foster wasn’t even aware of the meetings until the Times informed him.

In other words, let’s not get too excited yet. But at least somebody is doing something. And next week we could get our first look at what could be the Rays next home.