Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda on Sept. 28. So would bringing a team back there make sense? Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. 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. 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. 1. 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. So is it their time yet? Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. 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. NHL Lightning & Panthers. Why are the Rays in St Pete? Population: 676,640 (19th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Sports Teams in the City: Memphis Grizzlies. A city that has history rooting for other teams would find it more appealing to take the time to build a stadium for an original team and to start new than bring in a franchise that already has 20+ years of history in another state. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. , 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. Tampa Bay Rays moving spring training site due to hurricane damage Skip to main content Skip to navigation > ESPN Search You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions,. The Grizzlies were 27th in NBA attendance, but this is largely due to their struggles during the regular season. Legacy: San Antonio is known as a basketball town with the two major franchises being the NBA and the WNBA. 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 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. 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. 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). December 2, 2022 in Grapefruit League Teams, Tampa Bay Rays. A spokesman for Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declined to comment as well, noting that the city would not be involved in that concept. Las Vegas has already lost out on the Sacramento Kings who decided to stay put and the Phoenix Coyotes decision to keep their franchise in its current location. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. That being said, lets get to it! The Charlotte Stone Crabs enjoyed an 11-year run in Charlotte County. Right now, even as it struggles for in-person fans, Tampa draws close to 15 percent of Hartford's entire population per game. 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. But, lets say the Rays come to town. Tampa Bay Rays. I think were a good fit for them, I feel thatthey feel the same way from conversations Ive had with some of their staff over the years, Doherty said. Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring training locations. 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. Lets be real. 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). 5. On a personal note, I am a Rays fan living outside of Florida (though born and raised in Tampa, represent!) The Rays have played at the domed Tropicana Field since their inaugural 1998 season but have considered moving elsewhere, such as neighboring Tampa, amid consistently low attendance. The Nationals Stink, BAD. Cities like Vegas and Memphis relocation cities. However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. Montreal was viable once so, of course, it can be again and the Blue Jays, through thick and thin, have stuck around. However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. Well, until the strike hit anyway). The downsides of this proposal are apparent. Other Franchises: Portland Trailblazers (one championship), Portland Timbers. 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 in Port Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, since 2009. Will Charlotte get MLB team? out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. 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. Co-founder and retired executive of the Orlando Magic. 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. But appearances can be deceiving, and there's . 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. A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . Team Puerto Ricos scheduled exhibition game against the Rays on Thursday, March 9 will now be hosted by the Atlanta Braves at North Port. "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 . Overall, Welch said, the idea is to create a destination for people who come to Rays games, as well as build a new community. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. 1 spring training destination by the readers of USA Today and 10Best. Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated his desire to expand to 32 teams. "Folks want to be here. Download our app, Charlotte Sports Park damaged due to Hurricane Ian, opening spring at Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Charlotte Sports Park sustained water and electrical damage, Rays updated Sprint Training schedule released, Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games, California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Rays to open Spring Traiing 2023 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, Rays beging Spring Training Feb. 14; will move operations to Tropicana Field March 1 and play games at Tropicana Field. Firstly, one has to know that Nashville has an entire website dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. 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. There has been discussion from some investors. 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast, Nats Parks New BetMGM Sportsbook is Great. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. 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. 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. In Charlotte, the team would be missed, Doherty said, but admitted that the loss of the Stone Crabs proved to be a dress rehearsal for that possibility. Already a subscriber? Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. He also knows a thing or two about the Athletics, the MLB franchise that the Raiders . 2023 Leaders Group. 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. 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. Let's be real. So is it possible? 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 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. 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. Timely, daily updates provide the latest developments and news relied upon by industry leaders. Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. Renderings indicate the old stadium would be demolished. . Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. Population:709,441 (18th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Carolina Panthers. 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. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. Legacy: The Portland Beavers have been a AAA affiliate (or minor league affiliate in some capacity) since the beginning of the 20th century. 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. (AP image). Your email address will not be published. Other Franchises: Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts (five total championships, two Super Bowl victories), Indiana Fever. '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. If the Rays played their spring training games as well as a portion of the 162-game regular season in Ybor City, the Rays would likely play the same teams they do now. The Rangers and Astros have been centerpieces of MLB for decades. "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. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. 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. The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball's best offense, . 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. 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 market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. Legacy: Montreal once had the Expos. They have a temporary stadium that could possibly be upgraded. 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. Memphis is the 19th-largest city in the United States and features the Memphis Grizzlies, whose rise from the cellar of the NBA is much similar to the Rays'. The storm struck the southwest coast of Florida and slowly moved across the state. Period. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will provide our players and coaches with first-class facilities for their annual ramp-up to the season.. 1 one month into the season? 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. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. 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. It time to move on to more deserving cities. 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. Analysis: I'm not joking when I put this as my choice. Charlotte is a great city that baseball should look to expand to, but for the Rays, its not the right option. So while baseball might take some getting used to, Indianapolis is fond of many sports and has the population to support it. Insert the Rays into Memphis, and you have a city on the rise with two very young franchises thriving on the baseball diamond and hardwood. Manager Joe Maddon helped guide the youthful Rays to their first playoff appearance in 2008, and they proceeded to upset the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, but they were eventually defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. 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. Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. The Rays and Charlotte County announced on Dec. 1 that the club would not be able to hold Spring Training at Charlotte Sports Park. 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. MLB is a significant step closer to expansion, which will bring two more franchises into the big leagues while also necessitating the creation of eight new minor-league teams around the country. Chief Business Officer Bill Walsh said that the team also made other ticket pricing adjustments around their ballpark to make sure that folks who maybe tuned in to the evening news and caught wind of what was happening here, that if they went to our website they could find some tickets, if not for $10, maybe within close proximity to that (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/24 issue). The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. Privacy Policy. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. 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. K.C. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. 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. Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). Were always looking for top-tier events, like the Rays Spring Training, for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. 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 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training. Other Franchises: Charlotte Bobcats, Carolina Panthers. "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 have arguably the best bullpen in the big leagues. 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.
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