The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. However, there's no . Attendance is always low. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. Imagine converting one-fourth of that 100,000 television audience to home games live. But why isnt it the first option? At first, it seems like an odd move for the Tampa Bay Rays to abandon one of the cushiest spring-training setups in baseball and leave scenic Al Lang Field in downtown St. Petersburg for a spring-training site once abandoned by the Texas Rangers. Tampa Bay previously hosted six regular-season games at the Disney ballpark, sweeping a series against the Rangers in May 2007 then winning three games against the Blue Jays in April 2008. Award-winning original reporting, with in-depth profiles, timely research and expert opinions on the biggest issues and stories in sports business. "It will no longer be a dream denied. There has been discussion from some investors. Moving the Rays to Charlotte is not only a good move, but an - Reddit The team is considering several options and hopes to make a decision in the next few weeks. All rights reserved.The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. But it happens, even to the best of teams, the best of fans and even the most successful of franchises. 1? Yes. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. The latest personnel hires and promotions, plus exclusive ratings and research from the sports industry. The team rebounded in 2010 by winning the AL East for the second time in three years with a 96-66 record, but the Rays fell to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers in the ALDS. And while the STORY of the Rays (small fries defeating the big time spending giants) is great dramatic fodder, no one, at least in person, is seeing it. 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. "One to watch" - Chelsea, Man Utd & Newcastle - Yardbarker "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. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? Right now, even as it struggles for in-person fans, Tampa draws close to 15 percent of Hartford's entire population per game. 1 spring training destination by the readers of USA Today and 10Best. Move the Tampa Rays to Memphis. Its also a decent distance from Florida. One possibility could be playing their Grapefruit League games at Tropicana Field, but they would likely need a larger space with more fields to hold their workouts. 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. There have also been professional leagues but, if substantial, it was back in the 19th century. I think the loyal sports followers would go, but I think the biggest problem would be how spoiled the fans would be. The Rays have trained since . Required fields are marked *. 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. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. and our A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . Once again, this would be a great place for the Rays to move because there are no professional sports teams in Nebraska, let alone the surrounding states like Iowa, Kansas and Wyoming. Tampa Bay Rays Careers and Employment - Indeed The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training. 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). 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. 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 downsides of this proposal are apparent. Same goes for the Colts. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. Upgrade your subscription to get all the news you need: Adding SBJ weekly content will give you the comprehensive view of sports business with: Adding SBJ daily content will give you the comprehensive view of sports business with: You have 1 All Access article remaining this month. That's an extra 25,000 and a total attendance of 43,000-plus. 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. Population: 335,709 Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship) Baseball . Where are the Tampa Bay Rays moving to? | Dependable By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. But while sports is a passion for most of us, for the select few who own and operate a sports franchise, it is a stressful business, and sometimes the product has to go where a demanding market wants it. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. Legacy: Charlotte has never been much of a baseball town. The article I linked mentions how San Antonio is a tad crowded, and that Austin is a government city, and that a better place for a Rays stadium would be in between the cities, in a place like San Marco, or New Braunfels. But, lets say the Rays come to town. The Rays Minor League camp will be based out of the Disney complex throughout Spring Training. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. 1:50. The stadium, where the Rays have conducted Spring Training since 2009, sustained water damage and electrical issues. As a matter of fact, there were some in, Charlotte that did not want to give the Knights a new stadium. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense 7. 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. There is also an established baseball tradition in Omaha with the College World Series played there every year. 1. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. 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. A future without Rays spring training? Possibility leaves many Team officials said there was not enough time to get the park in suitable condition to host games. Oh, and they have been doing all this while remaining in the bottom third of the MLB's payroll rankings. The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball's best offense, . This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. It would work out, believe me it will. The Rays' Major League spring workouts, plus a Feb. 28 home game, will take place at the Disney complex in Lake Buena Vista. Locally, the Pittsburgh Pirates host spring training at LECOM Park at 1611 9th Street W., Bradenton, but the minor leaguers train a few miles east at Pirate City. Charlotte, N.C. 2 of 5 Why are the Rays in St Pete? Where . Legacy: Hartford is perhaps more known for its former franchise, aka The Whalers, then anything else. However, the key stat here, is the Rays television audience. Privacy Policy. "I pitched like that in 2021, and it was a good year from me, so I think moving there has had the same effect," said Garcia, who has lowered . How is MLB expansion impacted by the Oakland A's likely move to Las The Tampa Sports Authority had researchers put together a new report on the financials of putting in a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays in Ybor City. Population: 807,584 (14th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers. 49 print issues delivered to your home or office. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. MLB: 5 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Should Move to Immediately Rays spring training: Charlotte County officials ponder future - Yahoo! "I am a child of the Gas Plant," Welch said. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. The Rays dropped to 14-1 at home after losing to the Astros. Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated his desire to expand to 32 teams. However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. | Powered By: Web Seo Wiz. 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. NEXT IN LINE: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes Tampa Bay civic leaders are "on the clock and it is ticking ever so loudly on your status as a Major League Baseball area. As the situation in Oakland was resolved just a few days ago when the As announced they purchased land in Las Vegas to build a ballpark, Tampa Bay is on deck and better step up to plate or the red-hot Rays will someday soon be announcing a move to Nashville, Charlotte, Montreal or some other baseball-hungry city (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/26). The Rays Major League spring workouts, plus a Feb. 28 home game, will take place at the Disney complex in Lake Buena Vista. MLB Realignment: 7 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Could Relocate to If The Rays would have to build a new ballpark, but there is no reason not to believe it would not be revered by baseball fans in the area. Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said last year that there is a "sense of urgency" for the Rays to resolve their stadium issue and that MLB wants the team to remain in the Tampa Bay area. 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 two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense, 7. The Rays faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. Archived post. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. Timely, daily updates provide the latest developments and news relied upon by industry leaders. City officials decided early on that the city would attempt to attract Major League Baseball. The Rays have trained in Port Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, since 2009. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. Here is a look at seven cities that could benefit from the addition of a major league franchise, in this case, the Tampa Bay Rays. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. We are aware of the media reports about potential relocation discussions, but were told by the Rays management they have no immediate plans to move their spring training location, he continued. Your email address will not be published. And any time a team threatens or considers folding, Portland is in the cards. 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. The Tampa Bay Rays still went by the name Devil Rays in August 2006, when they signed a 20-year spring training lease with Charlotte County for Charlotte Sports Park, which first hosted the Rays in 2009, followinga $28 million renovation. 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. Tampa Bay's success on the field has not translated to putting fans in the stands of Tropicana Field though, which is a big reason why their payroll continues to remain low and will not be doing them any favors as the trade deadline approaches in 2011. The Rays declined through an email from a team spokesman to comment further. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. The Rays are locked into a lease at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg through 2027, while the lease for spring training in Port Charlotte runs through 2028. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. K.C. Rays Could Still Move To Tampa After St. Pete Redevelopment Bid The Rays followed up their Cinderella season by winning 84 games in 2009 and finishing third in the AL East, which was nothing short of remarkable considering they lost 101 games in 2006. With Rays ownership seeming more and more likely to move out of their current spot once their lease at the dreaded Tropicana Field ends in 2027, I decided to take a look at some possible cities in the United States the Rays could possibly end up. The Grizzlies were 27th in NBA attendance, but this is largely due to their struggles during the regular season. 5 Potential Relocation Spots For Rays - Half Street High Heat | A Disney World visitors would pounce on the opportunity for other entertainment, similar to how the Golden Knights of the NHL built up their attendance by pouncing on bored Vegas visitors who had run out of shows to see and money to gamble away. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. So is it their time yet? Other Franchises: Portland Trailblazers (one championship), Portland Timbers. Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). Why? So is it possible? Other Franchises: Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts (five total championships, two Super Bowl victories), Indiana Fever. Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring training locations. Walt Disney World Resort said its looking forward to providing. And even if the Rays create a mini-dynasty and win four of the next five championships, the current situation (crappy stadium, poor attendance, terrible local access) at a consistent rate will cause the owners and operators to question the viability of a Tampa franchise. 2023 Leaders Group. 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. . There isnt really an issue with this proposal. Sure, the Expos had their legal fights, and they have their legal fans, but does a Tampa franchise struggling with attendance and stadium issues want to go back to the same problem but this time in a country that might be indifferent? Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. Pacers fans are immensely loyal and, regardless of talent or win totals, it always seems the Pacers are blue collar and supported as such. According to the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays have almost 100,000 fans watching their games (per game) at home due to the long trek from Tampa to St. Petersburg. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. The Spurs were consistently in the top half of the NBA in attendance pre-pandemic, showing that San Antonio can gather fan interest, while Austin would be a fun experiment. Not to mention a name change the Rays would have to do, to something like the Stars or Outlaws. This is why the Rays rank in the bottom half for attendance (at roughly 18,000-plus per) and even then, you have a large portion being visiting fans (snow birds or local residents who hailed from other states before the Rays existed). With Charlotte Sports Park damaged due to Hurricane Ian, the team plans on opening spring at Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. The Indiana Pacers are floundering at the moment, which would provide the Rays with an opening to win over the Indianapolis fanbase. It can be problematic, but not unheard of, for Major League baseball teams to host spring training at more than one site. The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field as members of Major League Baseball's American League East Division.. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Much like the last two cities on this list, Nashville would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than sorting through recruiting the Rays. This was the only city that was going to be number 1. PETERSBURG -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. So while baseball might take some getting used to, Indianapolis is fond of many sports and has the population to support it. 2023 Leaders Group. Guerra isn't exactly a . Danny - Nationals Lead Writer: @Nats_Baseball, Matt - Nationals Lead Writer: @HolleranMDH, 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast . The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. The decision affects both the major league and minor league camps. 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. 5. Column: Another domino falls on road to MLB expansion

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