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. Period. The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field as members of Major League Baseball's American League East Division.. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball's best offense, . 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. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Feb. 14, with early arrivals slated for Feb. 6. 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. How awesome would a brand new baseball stadium look near the Las Vegas strip? . While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. Ron DeSantis' Tampa Bay hometown has evolved. Does it still claim him? The Tampa Bay Rays are still considering a move to Tampa after winning the bid to redevelop part of St. Petersburg's Historic Gas Plant District, the team's president, Brian Auld, told Patch. Daily updates aggregating the stories and spin from more than 600 outlets across the globe. We are thankful for Disneys willingness and ability to accommodate our unexpected Spring Training needs, Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. 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. He also knows a thing or two about the Athletics, the MLB franchise that the Raiders . Two proposals shepherded by the previous mayor were scrapped last year by Welch, who sought to focus more on affordable housing and job opportunities at the Gas Plant District. 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'. Right now, even as it struggles for in-person fans, Tampa draws close to 15 percent of Hartford's entire population per game. 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. 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. The Rays' current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp," a spokesperson wrote in an email to 10 Tampa Bay. The Rays declined through an email from a team spokesman to comment further. Other Franchises: Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts (five total championships, two Super Bowl victories), Indiana Fever. But, lets say the Rays come to town. One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring training locations. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. The Rays current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp.. The Rangers and Astros have been centerpieces of MLB for decades. Legacy: The Portland Beavers have been a AAA affiliate (or minor league affiliate in some capacity) since the beginning of the 20th century. Firstly, one has to know that Nashville has an entire website dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. The Raleigh-based Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) have also begun to sputter. Oakland A's are relocating; Tampa Bay Rays are on deck | Commentary Welch said the plan should keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the long term. 1 one month into the season? 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. 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). 49 print issues delivered to your home or office. Legacy: Charlotte has never been much of a baseball town. 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. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. The Rays have not yet finalized their plans for Spring Training, but they are considering a variety of options. Attendance is always low. 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. Not only is it the most reasonable, but it is the most likely, at least in my opinion. [Source: TampaBay.com] 10 Things To Know About The 2022 Gameplan for a Rays Stadium in Ybor. December 2, 2022 in Grapefruit League Teams, Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have trained since . Overall, Welch said, the idea is to create a destination for people who come to Rays games, as well as build a new community. Tampa Bay Rays Careers and Employment - Indeed Rays' Franco Wanders into Left Field to Make Stunning Barehanded Catch , 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. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. Relocate to Montreal or Nashville where they can draw fans, same can said for the Marlins, I think it is about time the world's largest playground gets a professional sports team. 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. In 2021, as part of an overall reorganization of minor league baseball, the Rays moved theirClass A-advanced affiliate to South Carolina. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Rays relocate 2023 spring workouts to Disney - MLB 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. 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. Moving the Rays to Charlotte is not only a good move, but an - Reddit 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 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. Tampa residents Dennis Gallagher and his daughter Kate wait for the start of the Tampa Bay Rays final home spring training game last season. 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. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Then they lost them. The Indiana Pacers are floundering at the moment, which would provide the Rays with an opening to win over the Indianapolis fanbase. But why isnt it the first option? 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. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. 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. 2023 Leaders Group. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. 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 . The Rays could go to North Carolina, continue winning and give sports fans in the state a team they can root for in the postseason, aside from the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. 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 . Required fields are marked *. SBJ I Factor presented by Allied Sports features an interview with Navigate founder A.J. 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 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 Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. 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. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Nashville's pursuit of an MLB franchise might be gaining steam, if a Tampa City Council member is to be believed. 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. NFL Owner Rips Baseball Team for Plans to Move to Las Vegas The Baltimore Orioles, prior to their move to Ed Smith Stadium in 2010, hosted Major League spring training in Fort Lauderdale, while the minor league camp was at Twin Lakes Parks in Sarasota, which was originally developed by the Kansas City Royals in 1970 as a baseball academy. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. Montreal was viable once so, of course, it can be again and the Blue Jays, through thick and thin, have stuck around. 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.. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. Legacy: Hartford is perhaps more known for its former franchise, aka The Whalers, then anything else. All rights reserved. The latter ideacomes from state Sen. William Simpson, R-Trilby, current senate president. And any time a team threatens or considers folding, Portland is in the cards. Teams that cant draw or have stadium problems should get a 5 year out if these issues are not fixed. 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 . Lets give Tennessee its own team instead. The Charlotte Stone Crabs enjoyed an 11-year run in Charlotte County. "We are solely focused on the Sister City plan and keeping the Rays in Tampa Bay for generations," said Rays' president Brian Auld. Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. However, there's no . "It's not just for a ballgame but an entire experience.". Download it here. Doherty noted that while the Stone Crabs offered some family friendly fun, the county was successful in attractingyouth tournaments to recoup some tourism dollars. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. 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. 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 market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. It time to move on to more deserving cities. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. 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. 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. Other Franchises: Portland Trailblazers (one championship), Portland Timbers. The Rays' Major League spring workouts, plus a Feb. 28 home game, will take place at the Disney complex in Lake Buena Vista. 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. Where are the Tampa Bay Rays moving to? | Dependable Rays Could Still Move To Tampa After St. Pete Redevelopment Bid 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. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. Already a subscriber? Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). We are thankful for Disneys willingness and ability to accommodate our unexpected Spring Training needs, Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. In2014, the new stadium, which included a boardwalk food area behind the outfield fence and a grass berm seating area, was named the No. 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. 4/24/2023 - Tampa Bay Rays amplify the wave to capitalize on record-tying start, SBJ Spotlight: Rich McKay of AMB Sports and Entertainment, Anquan Boldin on how the Players Coalition continues to fight for social justice, Jalen Rose on being a business-minded athlete, and why NIL is good for college players, Bill Simmons on the creation of ESPNs 30 for 30 documentaries. 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.
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