Seattle Mariners unveil City Connect uniforms. Find out what works well at Tampa Bay Rays from the people who know best. Attendance is always low. 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. 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 . A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . Rays to Disney's sports complex before games at the Trop. Other Franchises: Charlotte Bobcats, Carolina Panthers. 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). A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. If the Rays were to leave the Tampa-St.Pete area, this should be the first place they should consider going. Uncover why Tampa Bay Rays is the best company for you. Tampa This was the only city that was going to be number 1. Population: 807,584 (14th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. 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. Cookie Notice The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1. 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. Charlotte seems like it could be a great fit for a professional baseball team. Legacy: San Antonio is known as a basketball town with the two major franchises being the NBA and the WNBA. 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. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. Other Franchises: Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts (five total championships, two Super Bowl victories), Indiana Fever. and I recently flew into Tampa for a three game series and getting to Tropicana Field from Tampa itself was a pain in the butt. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. There is an obvious solution as to where . The Rays also have history at The Stadium, formerly known as Champion Stadium. The Rays dropped to 14-1 . Archived post. 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). 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. 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. It would work out, believe me it will. 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). 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. 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. 2023 Leaders Group. Tampa residents Dennis Gallagher and his daughter Kate wait for the start of the Tampa Bay Rays final home spring training game last season. Welch said the plan should keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the long term. Charlotte Sports Park (formerly known as Charlotte County Stadium and Ranger Stadium) is a baseball stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida.The stadium is the home field for Tampa Bay Rays spring training operations, as well as its Rookie-class Florida Complex League Rays teams. 4.26.2023. The latter ideacomes from state Sen. William Simpson, R-Trilby, current senate president. The city of Omaha has also risen in the population rankings from 47th to 40th since 1990, which indicates a growing interest in the area and perhaps a growing fanbase if the trend continues. [Source: TampaBay.com] 10 Things To Know About The 2022 Gameplan for a Rays Stadium in Ybor. 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. So would bringing a team back there make sense? 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. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. However, there's no . 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. The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. Not much has changed in Tampa Bay this year either. Required fields are marked *. 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. ST. PETERSBURG -- Unable to use the Charlotte Sports Park complex due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will hold the first phase of their Major League Spring Training camp at Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex before hosting most of their Grapefruit League games at Tropicana Field. Divisions will stay the same, because the move from Tampa to Charlotte keeps the team on the East coast no rearranging of divisions would be necessary, 6. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. The Charlotte Sports Park facility, which has been the the Rays spring home since 2009, sustained extensive damage in the late-September storm, including to the game stadium and other buildings. 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. 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.. The stadium, where the Rays have conducted Spring Training since 2009, sustained water damage and electrical issues. Portland folk love to rival up against their northern state rivals and a MLB showdown 10 to 15 times a year would get the fans raring to go. Population: 676,640 (19th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Sports Teams in the City: Memphis Grizzlies. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. 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. History. But why isnt it the first option? 1 spring training destination by the readers of USA Today and 10Best. 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). Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. https://twitter.com/PDriscollTBT/status/1398317459220881408?s=20 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 Rays started the season with 13 consecutive wins, tying the 1982 Atlanta Braves and the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers for the modern era (post-1900) record, and the most . The Rays faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It's time for the Rays to move the franchise to a city where they can gain the support they need to continue as one of the AL's best teams for years to come. 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. So, even if the Rays do end up making the. Last night's game drew 9,916 fans, but the average attendance through Monday marked a 57% jump "from last years low point over a similar stretch and a milestone worth noting. The Rays in 2019 "drew 22 crowds of less than 10,000, with a low of 5,786. After four consecutive playoff runs -- the most prosperous stretch in franchise history -- the locals may be responding (USA TODAY, 4/25). I think the loyal sports followers would go, but I think the biggest problem would be how spoiled the fans would be. In 2018, he listed Nashville, along with Las Vegas, Charlotte, Montreal, Portland and Vancouver as potential . sun PHOTO BY TOM O'NEILL One of the drawbacks, however, would be the very low population. Charlotte County spokesman Brian Gleason said via email that Charlotte County has enjoyed partnering with the Tampa Bay Rays on their spring training camp and player development program since 2009. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. The Tampa Bay Rays will be seeking a temporary spring training site after determining Charlotte Sports Park damage caused by Hurricane Ian was too extensive for camp in 2023. Like Indy, I find the market perfect due to the population numbers and lack of in-city competition during the high-ratings portions of the leagues but see the fan expectations as an issue. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Let's be real. Here are five cities that would likely be great fits for the Rays. Baseball Legacy: Tampa and its bay area is, of course, a major player in the MLB spring training. 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. The 2023 Tampa Bay Rays season is the 26th season of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise and their 16th as the Rays. But, lets say the Rays come to town. 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. Charlotte is a great city that baseball should look to expand to, but for the Rays, its not the right option. 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. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. More than two decades of archival stories, profiles, research and data. Perhaps not. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. 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. To see a team that appears on the decline (at least from the perspective of two 90 win seasons in the last few years) go to a new city and perhaps, stink, may give San Antonio pause. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. 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. And while this Rays fan would be immensely sad if his home town team lost it's major league baseball franchise, there is no reason, in the worse case scenario that they DO, indeed, leave, for me to think the franchise, as changed as it would be, couldn't flourish somewhere else. The Toronto Blue Jays will now play the Rays at Tropicana Field on that date. 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. All rights reserved. Why? 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. Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda on Sept. 28. Tampa Bays home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, Feb. 26, has been removed from the schedule. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. The fans were out in full force to create one of the loudest arenas in the NBA during the Grizzlies' playoff run into the Western Conference semifinals. They have a stadium and entertainment area proposal, a section on the citys baseball history and their Negro League ties, and an entire group of investors. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. PETERSBURG The Rays may soon stand alone as baseball's problem child. I think it is about time the world's largest playground gets a professional sports team. The Rays are considering several options for a new spring base, including Tropicana Field and the Disney complex formerly used by the Braves, and hope to have a resolution in the next few weeks. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. Co-founder and retired executive of the Orlando Magic. The Rays and Braves played the first game ever at CoolToday Park, to close out the 2019 spring training schedule. 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. 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 team's AAA affiliate has not had a lot of attendance success so the expectation of fan excitement and fan attendance may need to be studied further. Welch, who is St. Petersburg's first Black mayor, emphasized that a key goal is to restore a majority Black neighborhood known as the Gas Plant District that was ousted by the stadium and a highway. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. 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. 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? But appearances can be deceiving, and there's . Its also a decent distance from Florida. 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. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. There is also an established baseball tradition in Omaha with the College World Series played there every year. Rays have the second-lowest average attendance in the MLB, only second to their in state counterparts, Speaking of the Marlins, Florida will still have a team so it wont be like Florida is completely isolated from Baseball, The Marlins have a brand spanking new stadium, wheras the Rays are in need of a new home anyway with their stadium being 29 years old, 4. Legacy: Charlotte has never been much of a baseball town. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? 1. Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/G. 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 Rays have had a charmed first month of the 2023 season, and plays like the one Wander Franco made against the Astros on Monday are what's fueled such a dominant start. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged due to Hurricane Ian, the team plans on opening spring at Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. Nashvilles high interest makes them the most attractive of the out of state relocation options, but again, a desire for a new team and a lack of a temporary stadium make this difficult when they collide with the Rays lengthy lease and their TV deals in Florida. "Following a joint assessment of the . Other Franchises: San Antonio Spurs (four championships), San Antonio Silver Stars. Click below to sign in. 1? If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? The 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. 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. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays may have identified a future ballpark location at the recently abandoned K-Force headquarters building on the north side of ongoing redevelopment at. 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. Related to that, and with a potential move there by the Rays, you'd have instant rivalry potential with the Seattle Mariners. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will provide our players and coaches with first-class facilities for their annual ramp-up to the season.. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. Other Franchises: Montreal Canadiens (24 championships). By then, the sports park then known as Charlotte County Stadium had been without a spring training club since 2002, when the Texas Rangers left for Arizona, after spending 15 years there. 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 Hurricane Ian. The move to Central Florida comes after the team's facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September. This was the only city that was going to be number 1. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. The Rays have trained since 2009 in Port Charlotte, Florida, about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, and intend to explore several options before making a . The downsides of this proposal are apparent. 5. Divisions will stay the same, because the move from Tampa to Charlotte keeps the team on the East coast no rearranging of divisions would be necessary 6. Were always looking for top-tier events, like the Rays Spring Training, for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.. Legacy: Montreal once had the Expos. "It will no longer be a dream denied. 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. Privacy Policy. The Rays' easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. The Rangers and Astros have been centerpieces of MLB for decades. QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? Central Texas is one of the most populous areas in the United States, and there have been talks of them potentially hosting another sports team for some time. And any time a team threatens or considers folding, Portland is in the cards. 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. Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. A. . I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. 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. "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. Doherty noted that while the Stone Crabs offered some family friendly fun, the county was successful in attractingyouth tournaments to recoup some tourism dollars. Wed be very sad to see them go. 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 easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise.
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