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. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. 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. So while baseball might take some getting used to, Indianapolis is fond of many sports and has the population to support it. It would work out, believe me it will. There have also been professional leagues but, if substantial, it was back in the 19th century. 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. 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). . They have a lease that runs through 2031 after recent extensions, according to the Port Charlotte Sun. 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. 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. We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. That being said, lets get to it! Rays to move spring training from storm-damaged Port Charlotte facility Tampa Bay Rays Careers and Employment - Indeed 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). Maestas, a member of Sports Business Journals Forty Under 40 class of 2015. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. Seattle Mariners unveil City Connect uniforms. 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. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. 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. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. In 2021, as part of an overall reorganization of minor league baseball, the Rays moved theirClass A-advanced affiliate to South Carolina. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. Analysis: While the legacy for baseball is not great, Indiana, and Indianapolis in particular, has a strong group of fans behind them in whatever sport they decide to follow. San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. "Folks want to be here. 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. 1:50. Archived post. 2023 Leaders Group. 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast, Nats Parks New BetMGM Sportsbook is Great. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. 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. 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,. "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 . Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. 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 they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. 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 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. 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. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I'd say yes. The multifield complex will give the Rays the space they need for their Spring Training workouts. Yes. 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. 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. Doherty noted that while the Stone Crabs offered some family friendly fun, the county was successful in attractingyouth tournaments to recoup some tourism dollars. A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . So is it their time yet? Residents of Dunedin, the Florida governor's "blue-collar" hometown, are split on whether his values mirror the city's. MLB: 5 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Should Move to Immediately They would have a fan base and really wouldnt effect the St.Louis Cardinals. Its also a decent distance from Florida. Rays' Franco Wanders into Left Field to Make Stunning Barehanded Catch PETERSBURG -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. 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. Rays moving spring camp due to damage caused by hurricane 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. Lets give Tennessee its own team instead. 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. The plan calls for a new domed stadium to be ready for the 2028 season opener; the Rays' current stadium lease is up in 2027. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. The Rays use the facility on a year-round basis for extended spring training, complex and instructional league play, and mini-camps. 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. 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. 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. 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. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. A future without Rays spring training? Possibility leaves many Privacy Policy. Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated his desire to expand to 32 teams. Period. 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 it happens, even to the best of teams, the best of fans and even the most successful of franchises. 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. 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. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. 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. 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. Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet, and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. 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. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. But why isnt it the first option? Relocation and contraction are words no fan wants to hear, especially if it involves their beloved team. The Rays have trained in Port Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, since 2009. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. The team's lease with their Spring training facility in Port Charlotte runs through 2028. NFL Owner Rips Baseball Team for Plans to Move to Las Vegas According to the Tampa Bay Times, "As the Montreal plan took shape, Rays officials said it was their 'only' option and dismissed any chance of getting a new full-time home in the Tampa Bay . Already a subscriber? 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. Once the Rays, who started training in Port Charlotte after its first American League Championship in 2008, arrived, Doherty said people would recognize that was where the team hosted spring training. 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. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. While the Whalers were a popular franchise in Hartford, Hartford is just plain inexperienced at handling major league sports. More than two decades of archival stories, profiles, research and data. The decision affects both the major league and minor league camps. 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. Tampa Bay Rays. Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). Uncover why Tampa Bay Rays is the best company for you. Are Tampa Bay Rays considering Nashville relocation for MLB franchise? If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring The Spurs have been world class forwellever it seems. With this trade to re-acquire Javy Guerra, Tampa Bay is adding an intriguing arm to their group of relievers. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. 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. Moving the Rays to Charlotte is not only a good move, but an - Reddit There werent as many teams near the teams former spring training home Lake Buena Vista. 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. Other Franchises: San Antonio Spurs (four championships), San Antonio Silver Stars. "Following a joint assessment of the . Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. NHL Lightning & Panthers. That said, on this list, I find this destination the least likely. Rays relocate 2023 spring workouts to Disney - MLB The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. It will be a temporary return of sorts for Spring Training in downtown St. Petersburg, as the Rays played their spring home games at Al Lang Field from 1998-2008 before moving south to Port Charlotte. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. The Rays have trained since . St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. MLB-best Tampa Bay strengthens bullpen with Brewers trade Period. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. Other Franchises: Montreal Canadiens (24 championships). 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. In2014, the new stadium, which included a boardwalk food area behind the outfield fence and a grass berm seating area, was named the No. 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. 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). It did help with putting us a little more on the map with travelers and tourists, he added. 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 . 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. But as for baseball, Indianapolis has the AAA affiliate for the usually awful Pittsburgh Pirates. Is it reasonable to assume 15 to 30 percent of the entire city would go to a baseball game. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense, 7. PETERSBURG The Rays may soon stand alone as baseball's problem child. 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. Oakland A's are relocating; Tampa Bay Rays are on deck | Commentary Wed be very sad to see them go.
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