Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. Teams that cant draw or have stadium problems should get a 5 year out if these issues are not fixed. I think the loyal sports followers would go, but I think the biggest problem would be how spoiled the fans would be. Related to that, and with a potential move there by the Rays, you'd have instant rivalry potential with the Seattle Mariners. The latest personnel hires and promotions, plus exclusive ratings and research from the sports industry. ST. PETERSBURG The Rays on Thursday made official what had seemed likely, that their 2023 spring training camp will be relocated from Port Charlotte due to damage to the facility caused by . There has been discussion from some investors, most notably MLB legend Nolan Ryan and his son Reid, who have both given consideration to pitching the owners on an expansion or relocation to Central Texas. The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball's best offense, . Analysis: Baseball can work in Texas. The team and county officials put out a joint statement Thursday night saying, in part, that after a joint assessment of the damage, both parties have determined there is not adequate time before the Rays 2023 spring training is scheduled to begin to get the park in suitable condition to host games. A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . The Titans and Predators have no issues with attendance and are immensely popular in the region, while Nashville also had the, highest economic growth of any American city in 2021. . Obviously the Rays would need a new ballpark built, but the remaining fanbase in Tampa Bay is already calling for a new stadium, so this is somewhat of a moot point. The storm struck the southwest coast of Florida and slowly moved across the state. 1? A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. "This selection validates all the hard work," Auld said. I think MLB view cities like Montreal, Portland, Nashville, Charlotte and possibly Mexico City as possible expansion cities. The Baltimore Orioles, prior to their move to Ed Smith Stadium in 2010, hosted Major League spring training in Fort Lauderdale, while the minor league camp was at Twin Lakes Parks in Sarasota, which was originally developed by the Kansas City Royals in 1970 as a baseball academy. "Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training," the statement . Sign up for the Rays Report weekly newsletter to get fresh perspectives on the Tampa Bay Rays and the rest of the majors from sports columnist John Romano. We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. Maestas, a member of Sports Business Journals Forty Under 40 class of 2015. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. The Rays will likely not be able to use TD Ameritrade Park though because of the minor league teams in the city, plus it can only fit around 24,000 fans. The Rays' easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Tampa Bay Rays are relocating their spring base for 2023 due to extensive damage to team training facilities caused by Hurricane Ian. [Source: TampaBay.com] 10 Things To Know About The 2022 Gameplan for a Rays Stadium in Ybor. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. "We think Tampa is a major league market and we want to find a solution that makes the club economically viable in that market," Manfred said then. Move the Tampa Rays to Memphis. CHARLOTTE COUNTY Sean Doherty, director of tourism for the Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, can recall when the area's name recognition increasedafter the Tampa Bay Rays moved theirspring training headquarters to Charlotte Sports Park. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. The broader plan includes about 5,700 housing units -- a large chunk of them to be deemed affordable -- office and retail space, 700 hotel rooms, a 2,500-seat entertainment venue and a new Woodson African American Museum of Florida. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. Not only is it the most reasonable, but it is the most likely, at least in my opinion. Along with other list member Charlotte, Portland was a finalist for the Expos franchise but lost out to Washington. They have a lease that runs through 2031 after recent extensions, according to the Port Charlotte Sun. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. Because Charlotte is another example of a city that would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than an exported Rays franchise that would probably have to change its name to something more relevant. In this story: Raiders owner Mark Davis knows a thing or two about moving a team from Oakland to Las Vegas. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training., Added the Rays, We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. The Oakland Athletics are packing their bags for Las Vegas, a long-expected move that will affect far more baseball fans than in those two cities. Find out what works well at Tampa Bay Rays from the people who know best. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Danny - Nationals Lead Writer: @Nats_Baseball, Matt - Nationals Lead Writer: @HolleranMDH, 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast . Legacy:Besides the two major sports of basketball and football, in which the Indianapolis crowd has been lucky to have very storied franchises with big names, Indianapolis is home to prestigious racing, WNBA, and, as of late, major college basketball success with Butler. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. Rays' early-season success leads to attendance bump. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Keep in mind I mostly avoided cities that were too far away from St. Petersburg, because many of those scenarios are far-fetched, and it seems like the Athletics are moving to Vegas anyway, with other Western cities like Portland and Vancouver being expansion options. the Tampa Bay Rays ridiculous plan to split their season between the Tampa area and Montreal. And any time a team threatens or considers folding, Portland is in the cards. The Rangers and Astros have been centerpieces of MLB for decades. From 1998 to 2008, the Devil Rays played their spring training games at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, just a few blocks from Tropicana Field. 1. Charlotte seems like it could be a great fit for a professional baseball team. Mayor Ken Welch of St. Petersburg, Florida, chose a partnership between the Rays and the Houston-based Hines development company from among four proposals to transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) downtown site where Tropicana Field now sits. Details remain to be worked out over the next several years, including how to finance the project among the Rays, the city, Pinellas County and other entities. But appearances can be deceiving, and there's . A spokeswoman for Simpson confirmed that he and other Pasco County state legislators would consider seeking state aid for a proposed training site, depending on the details.. Is it likely? With CBA negotiations becoming even more tense, it now looks like the MLB season will not start on time, with Spring Training at the bare minimum being pushed back. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The Trop was built as a hockey arena, and even the Lightning found it wasnt as suitable for it, moving to the Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazines awards, such as Forty Under 40, Game Changers and others. Most recently, published reports, primarily in the Tampa Bay Times, have highlighted a portion of that effort that would have the Rays play their spring training games in a stadium that would be built as part of the development play for the 50-acre Gas Worx parcel between Ybor City and the Channelside area, with a spring training player development site to the north, in Pasco County. Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. More than two decades of archival stories, profiles, research and data. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. There was significant damage and heavy flooding throughout Port Charlotte and Charlotte County after Hurricane Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda, Fla., on Sept. 28. However, the key stat here, is the Rays television audience. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Yes. The Trailblazers, in thick and thin (mostly thin in the last few decades), have stuck by them, and the Portland Timbers, a new MLS franchise, is making soccer viable in the US in at least one section of the country. We are thankful for Disneys willingness and ability to accommodate our unexpected Spring Training needs, Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. City officials decided early on that the city would attempt to attract Major League Baseball. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Co-founder and retired executive of the Orlando Magic Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. The Rays have been their prime candidate, considering their desire for a new stadium and less than spectacular attendance figures in Tampa Bay. The Rays use the facility on a year-round basis for extended spring training, complex and instructional league play, and mini-camps. A playoff game. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. Pacers fans are immensely loyal and, regardless of talent or win totals, it always seems the Pacers are blue collar and supported as such. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Following a joint assessment of the damage to Charlotte Sports Park caused by Hurricane Ian, Charlotte County and the Tampa Bay Rays have determined there is not adequate time before the Rays 2023 spring training is scheduled to begin to get the park in suitable condition to host games, the statement said. The city's population ranking has shot up from 63rd to 28th since 1990, which is also another great reason to establish a professional sports team in Las Vegas. Tampa, while a great city, is not exactly a great sports town, even during the best of times (the Bucs and Lightning have won championships but consistent attendance is a problem. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down the Tampa Bay Rays ridiculous plan to split their season between the Tampa area and Montreal. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "It will no longer be a dream denied. However, as a former resident, I will add that even during the WORST of times with both the Bucs and Lightning, there were very dedicated fans that came). So yes, these options are regional. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. If the Rays were to leave the Tampa-St.Pete area, this should be the first place they should consider going. But it happens, even to the best of teams, the best of fans and even the most successful of franchises. However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. Attendance is always low. They have a temporary stadium that could possibly be upgraded. , most notably MLB legend Nolan Ryan and his son Reid, who have both given consideration to pitching the owners on an expansion or relocation to Central Texas. San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. The city has a very high population and has quite a large media market as well, which would help promote the Rays and perhaps sell out more than just one game per year. Rays president Brian Auld, who attended the mayor's event, said in a brief interview it is "a thrill" to see the project take a major step forward. Relocation and contraction are words no fan wants to hear, especially if it involves their beloved team. Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated his desire to expand to 32 teams. December 2, 2022 in Grapefruit League Teams, Tampa Bay Rays. The Braves used the Disney facility for 22 years, most recently in 2019, before moving their Spring Training operations to CoolToday Park in North Port. QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. The team is considering several options and hopes to make a decision in the next few weeks. It might be easier to root for the Red Sox or Yankees if you live in Connecticut, but I just have a gut feeling a Hartford team would be a resounding success. A spokesman for Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declined to comment as well, noting that the city would not be involved in that concept. Cities like Vegas and Memphis relocation cities. Other Franchises: Montreal Canadiens (24 championships). They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. The Rays dropped to 14-1 at home after losing to the Astros. Why? The city of Indianapolis already has a winning team in the Colts, but there is no reason the Rays cannot succeed in Indy as well. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Lets be real. 5. Residents of Dunedin, the Florida governor's "blue-collar" hometown, are split on whether his values mirror the city's. It did help with putting us a little more on the map with travelers and tourists, he added. Finally it makes sense for travel times too, every team in the AL East is closer to Charlotte than Tampa by several hours of flight, and very few teams in any division would have further travel times. In the case of the Tampa Bay Rays, relocation and contraction have been words that have plagued the franchise, both through years and years of frustrating on the field struggles and during a still-running streak of division winning success. So getting people to go to games wouldn't be a problem (and heck, out of 1.3 million people, someone has to like baseball there, right?). 1. 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast, Nats Parks New BetMGM Sportsbook is Great.
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