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. In this story: Raiders owner Mark Davis knows a thing or two about moving a team from Oakland to Las Vegas. "I am a child of the Gas Plant," Welch said. The Rays Major League spring workouts, plus a Feb. 28 home game, will take place at the Disney complex in Lake Buena Vista. Related to that, and with a potential move there by the Rays, you'd have instant rivalry potential with the Seattle Mariners. But, lets say the Rays come to town. In recent years,the Rays have contemplated moving from St. Petersburg to Tampa, andteam officials have touted a Sister Cities concept that would have the Rayssplit theseason between new stadiums in Tampa and Montreal. Plus, the only teams the Rays would have to compete with for attendance would be the Nevada Wolfpack and the UNLV Rebels' college teamswell, and the Lingerie Football League (pictured above), but I do not think they will be able to cause the same attendance troubles the Rays have at the moment. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. Tampa Bays Major League operations will move from the Walt Disney World Resort to Tropicana Field at the beginning of March, and the Rays will play the remainder of their spring home games at the Trop. We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. Its also a decent distance from Florida. So yes, these options are regional. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays will be built near the current one under plans unveiled Monday as part of a massive redevelopment project that also includes affordable housing, office space and retail in what was once a thriving Black neighborhood. 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. 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. . That said, on this list, I find this destination the least likely. The Rays declined through an email from a team spokesman to comment further. With the Rays relocating, there were minor changes made to the Grapefruit League schedule, which MLB announced on Wednesday: Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Feb. 14, with early arrivals slated for Feb. 6. San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. There are already 2 teams in Texas that have been there for a. time (Astros since 1962, Rangers since 1971), and they have taken up the majority of the fan interest. Residents of Dunedin, the Florida governor's "blue-collar" hometown, are split on whether his values mirror the city's. Tampa Bays home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, Feb. 26, has been removed from the schedule. Here are five cities that would likely be great fits for the Rays. one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1. The Rays use the facility on a year-round basis for extended spring training, complex and instructional league play, and mini-camps. While the Whalers were a popular franchise in Hartford, Hartford is just plain inexperienced at handling major league sports. With two major franchises already in tow, one being the Bobcats with an owner in Michael Jordan, and the Panthers, who have had their share of regular season and playoff success, the idea of a MLB team in the city doesn't seem outlandish. The Indiana Pacers are floundering at the moment, which would provide the Rays with an opening to win over the Indianapolis fanbase. "At the moment there's not something concrete with any of these clubs, but I'm told he's open to make a top club move in the summer so it's one to watch for sure. Analysis: Fool me oncewhile the Expos had its fair share of ownership issues throughout its troubled history, the Expos also had very lousy attendance and, not for the last time, a Canadian team playing a United States game, had to go elsewhere. The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training. | Powered By: Web Seo Wiz. Baseball Legacy: Tampa and its bay area is, of course, a major player in the MLB spring training. A spokesman for Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declined to comment as well, noting that the city would not be involved in that concept. It will be a temporary return of sorts for Spring Training in downtown St. Petersburg -- the Rays played their spring home games at Al Lang Field from 1998-2008 before moving south to Port Charlotte. It time to move on to more deserving cities. The Raleigh-based Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) have also begun to sputter. The storm struck the southwest coast of Florida and slowly moved across the state. 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. 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. PETERSBURG -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. The stadium, where the Rays have conducted Spring Training since 2009, sustained water damage and electrical issues. Analysis: Baseball can work in Texas. 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). "It's not just for a ballgame but an entire experience.". It has had a AA and AAA squad (the current incarnation is the Charlotte Knights, who are the White Sox affiliate), but most professional sports have been basketball (the former Hornets and now the Bobcats) and football (the Panthers, who despite varied success, average in the top 10 in attendance). Analysis: I'm not joking when I put this as my choice. 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. On that historic night, there were only over 12,000 fans at the ballpark and, from my point of view, a lot of them were Orioles fans. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? Population:709,441 (18th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Carolina Panthers. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. So it came as some surprise that the attendance for a 'home' franchise is so low (with, at least, fans originating from Tampa without ties to other franchises). Lets be real. However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. The 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. 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. They also need a home for their minor-league teams to train. (AP image). It should be noted though that MLB had Charlotte as a finalist for the Expos franchise when relocation was being considered (and eventually acted on). Well, until the strike hit anyway). There are already 2 teams in Texas that have been there for a long time (Astros since 1962, Rangers since 1971), and they have taken up the majority of the fan interest. And any time a team threatens or considers folding, Portland is in the cards. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training: Southern Exposure. PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. Privacy Policy. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? Not much has changed in Tampa Bay this year either. Find out what works well at Tampa Bay Rays from the people who know best. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. "Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training," the statement . SBJ I Factor presented by Allied Sports features an interview with Navigate founder A.J. Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a ground ball in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins during a Grapefruit League spring training game at Charlotte Sports Park on March 29, 2022 in Port Charlotte, Florida. The Rangers and Astros have been centerpieces of MLB for decades. But, lets say the Rays come to town. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. Rays' early-season success leads to attendance bump. But This is What You Should Have Expected, Mocking the Nationals Offseason, Early Postseason Edition, Mr. Soto or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Washington Nationals, Nats Prospects or: The Art of Tempering Expectations. After Tampa was awarded the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 1970s, St. Petersburg decided it wanted a share of the professional sports scene in Tampa Bay. 'Believe in the power of cheese': How a group of rookies helped give the Brewers the best vibes in baseball, Fantasy baseball: Load up on San Diego bats this weekend. I was at the infamous David Price Tweet game last year when the Rays had a chance to clinch a playoff spot against the Orioles. The Rays currently play in St. Petersburg which is, at first glance, right "next to" Tampa (though, to be fair, part of the Tampa Bay area and the Rays are the Tampa BAY Rays). Period. Cities like Vegas and Memphis relocation cities. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. Charlotte is a great city that baseball should look to expand to, but for the Rays, its not the right option. The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field as members of Major League Baseball's American League East Division.. The move to Central Florida comes after the team's facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. City officials decided early on that the city would attempt to attract Major League Baseball. Danny - Nationals Lead Writer: @Nats_Baseball, Matt - Nationals Lead Writer: @HolleranMDH, 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast . Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. Its the fifth fastest growing city in the US, and a growing city for sports aswell with the Panthers boasting the 7th highest average attendence in 2018 despite being a relatively new expansion team, 5. Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? 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. 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. With the Reams lease at the Trop ending in 2027, Williams pitched to the team in 2020 an entire proposal fleshed out for a Rays move, including a $1.2 billion dollar stadium, corporate sponsorships and possible support from Disney, and the numbers, that show how Orange County collects triple the tourist taxes of Pinellas and Hillsborough, where St. Petersburg and Tampa sit, respectively. 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. 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 Rays' current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp," a spokesperson wrote in an email to 10 Tampa Bay. Daily updates aggregating the stories and spin from more than 600 outlets across the globe. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. Orlando is a fantastic in-state option for the Rays, and it doesnt have the cumbersome cost of starting the fanbase over or getting out of a valuable TV deal across the state of Florida. He also knows a thing or two about the Athletics, the MLB franchise that the Raiders . Montreal was viable once so, of course, it can be again and the Blue Jays, through thick and thin, have stuck around. Not to mention that the, Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, , at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. The Rays have averaged roughly between 22,000-23,000 fans per game in attendance, but the Trop seats 34,078 people and could hold 42,735 fans if they were to remove the tarp from certain sections in the stadium. A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . The Rays dropped to 14-1 . The Rays home game against the New York Yankees on Tues., Feb. 28, will now be played at The Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. Why are the Rays in St Pete? With Charlotte Sports Park damaged from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. The Rays "seem to be connecting with their base even as they scour both sides of the bay for a new home," as the team prior to last night had not lost at home and had "yet to draw a crowd of less than 10,000," according to Gabe Lacques of USA TODAY. I decided to list 5 cities, one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. As part of the move to Charlotte, the Rays moved their Class A team from Vero Beach to Charlotte County. 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. Welch said the plan should keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the long term. 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. The decision affects both the major league and minor league camps. One of the drawbacks, however, would be the very low population. The Charlotte Stone Crabs enjoyed an 11-year run in Charlotte County. 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. the Tampa Bay Rays ridiculous plan to split their season between the Tampa area and Montreal. The Tampa Bay Times reported on Sept. 29 that there was obvious damage done to the Charlotte Sports Park complex, noting that a worker on site described water damage and electrical issues inside the buildings. We are thrilled to be bringing Major League Baseball back to Walt Disney World Resort, Faron Kelley, vice president of Disney Sports, said in a statement.
Minecraft: How To Summon Fireworks With Command Blocks Bedrock,
Articles T
