Floridians dont care about baseball as much hence Florida Marlins. Archived post. 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. Your email address will not be published. As part of the move to Charlotte, the Rays moved their Class A team from Vero Beach to Charlotte County. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. 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. 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. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. Along with other list member Charlotte, Portland was a finalist for the Expos franchise but lost out to Washington. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. 2023 Leaders Group. The team is considering several options and hopes to make a decision in the next few weeks. 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. Baseball Legacy: Tampa and its bay area is, of course, a major player in the MLB spring training. PETERSBURG The Rays may soon stand alone as baseball's problem child. 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. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. 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. So would bringing a team back there make sense? 49 print issues delivered to your home or office. 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. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. 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 market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. 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. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. The Raleigh-based Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) have also begun to sputter. With this trade to re-acquire Javy Guerra, Tampa Bay is adding an intriguing arm to their group of relievers. Legacy: Montreal once had the Expos. Charlotte Sports Park has been Tampa Bay's Spring Training home since 2009. So while baseball might take some getting used to, Indianapolis is fond of many sports and has the population to support it. 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. 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. "This team is the best partner for this generational endeavor, and now the next phase of work begins to bring this dream to reality for everyone in St. Petersburg," Welch said in a speech on the steps of City Hall. Perhaps not. dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. 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. Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. "This selection validates all the hard work," Auld said. Tampa Bay Rays president Brian Auld told councilmember Charlie Miranda that . The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. "We are solely focused on the Sister City plan and keeping the Rays in Tampa Bay for generations," said Rays' president Brian Auld. Doherty noted that while the Stone Crabs offered some family friendly fun, the county was successful in attractingyouth tournaments to recoup some tourism dollars. 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. Maestas talks with SBJs Abe Madkour about the early days of Navigate, which he said he founded with too little knowledge, though good fortune as far as timing made up for my mistakes. Maestas traces his career path and personal development, and highlights the attributes and practices that he believes help make a successful business person and human being. 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. 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 previously released exhibition schedule is expected to be revised. Analysis: For a city with very little exposure to professional sports (only two major sports franchises exist now and the only exposure to baseball has been a minor league affiliate) Portland has been a target for an MLB team for years. It might be easier to root for the Red Sox or Yankees if you live in Connecticut, but I just have a gut feeling a Hartford team would be a resounding success. 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). With Charlotte Sports Park damaged due to Hurricane Ian, the team plans on opening spring at Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. 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. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. Its also a decent distance from Florida. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. 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 . | Powered By: Web Seo Wiz. 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. Here are five cities that would likely be great fits for the Rays. Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring training locations. 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. That said, on this list, I find this destination the least likely. Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). 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 . The Rays use the facility on a year-round basis for extended spring training, complex and instructional league play, and mini-camps. Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda on Sept. 28. 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. Wed be very sad to see them go. Learn More. 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. If the Rays were to leave the Tampa-St.Pete area, this should be the first place they should consider going. Renderings indicate the old stadium would be demolished. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. Well have to play the wait-and-see game to see where that goes and we know their agreement here goes through 2028, so we hope to at least have them through then, but wed love to renew that agreement.. out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. 2023 Leaders Group. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. 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. The Charlotte Stone Crabs enjoyed an 11-year run in Charlotte County. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Nashville's pursuit of an MLB franchise might be gaining steam, if a Tampa City Council member is to be believed. Tampa Bay Rays. They have a lease that runs through 2031 after recent extensions, according to the Port Charlotte Sun. The Rays dropped to 14-1 . 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.. On a personal note, I am a Rays fan living outside of Florida (though born and raised in Tampa, represent!) Population:709,441 (18th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Carolina Panthers. There is an obvious solution as to where . and our The Rangers and Astros have been centerpieces of MLB for decades. 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. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. The Rays also have history at The Stadium, formerly known as Champion Stadium. 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. 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. , 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 Rays have trained since . Yes. 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. In this story: Raiders owner Mark Davis knows a thing or two about moving a team from Oakland to Las Vegas.
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