The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense, 7. They have a temporary stadium that could possibly be upgraded. 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. Cookie Notice 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. Tampa This was the only city that was going to be number 1. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. 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. They also need a home for their minor-league teams to train. San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? The Rays and Charlotte County announced on Dec. 1 that the club would not be able to hold Spring Training at Charlotte Sports Park. Rays to open upper deck for Yankees series in May, Rays lefty Josh Fleming finds his role as the bulk guy, Rays add bullpen depth in reacquiring Javy Guerra from Brewers, Rays send impressive rookie pitcher Taj Bradley back to minors, Heres why Tampa Bay Rays attendance during the teams historic winning streak matters | Editorial, White Sox pay tribute to Rays radio broadcaster Dave Wills, Why well know a lot more about the Rays in a month, CEO who turned Creative Pinellas into a thriving arts center is retiring, 2-year-old daughter of Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett drowns in family pool, Assembly line of Triple-A arms somehow has kept Rays atop the standings, Sign up for the Rays Report weekly newsletter, Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry, a two-time Cy Young winner, dies. PETERSBURG The Rays may soon stand alone as baseball's problem child. The latter ideacomes from state Sen. William Simpson, R-Trilby, current senate president. Relocate to Montreal or Nashville where they can draw fans, same can said for the Marlins, 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. Period. 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 storm struck the southwest coast of Florida and slowly moved across the state. 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 multifield complex will give the Rays the space they need for their Spring Training workouts. Among the 14 AL teams, the Rays have not finished any higher then ninth in attendance since 2007 and finished 12th the year of their World Series run. There have also been professional leagues but, if substantial, it was back in the 19th century. Archived post. Learn More. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. I think it is about time the world's largest playground gets a professional sports 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. 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. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. Download it here. On a personal note, I am a Rays fan living outside of Florida (though born and raised in Tampa, represent!) "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. "It will no longer be a dream denied. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. CHARLOTTE COUNTY Sean Doherty, director of tourism for the Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, can recall when the area's name recognition increasedafter the Tampa Bay Rays moved theirspring training headquarters to Charlotte Sports Park. 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. Charlotte Sports Park has been Tampa Bay's Spring Training home since 2009. There was also a proposal to split their home games between St. Petersburg and Montreal that was rejected by Major League Baseball. "Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training," the statement . 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. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. 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. With two major franchises already in tow, one being the Bobcats with an owner in Michael Jordan, and the Panthers, who have had their share of regular season and playoff success, the idea of a MLB team in the city doesn't seem outlandish. Well see, he added. 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. A spokesman for Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declined to comment as well, noting that the city would not be involved in that concept. Most recently, published reports, primarily in the Tampa Bay Times, have highlighted a portion of that effort that would have the Rays play their spring training games in a stadium that would be built as part of the development play for the 50-acre Gas Worx parcel between Ybor City and the Channelside area, with a spring training player development site to the north, in Pasco County. Not to mention a name change the Rays would have to do, to something like the Stars or Outlaws. But the population, mostly consisting of people aged between 20 and 50 and with a solid but still lower-to-middle income, might enjoy a change of sports scenery. 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). The Charlotte Stone Crabs enjoyed an 11-year run in Charlotte County. The Rays are just seven games out of the lead in the AL East and five and a half games out of the Wild Card, but are ranked 13th in AL attendance. PETERSBURG -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. 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. Let's be real. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Along with other list member Charlotte, Portland was a finalist for the Expos franchise but lost out to Washington. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. 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. Keep in mind I mostly avoided cities that were too far away from St. Petersburg, because many of those scenarios are far-fetched, and it seems like the Athletics are moving to Vegas anyway, with other Western cities like Portland and Vancouver being expansion options. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. 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. Population: 807,584 (14th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers. Its also a decent distance from Florida. The team rebounded in 2010 by winning the AL East for the second time in three years with a 96-66 record, but the Rays fell to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers in the ALDS. 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. Not only is it the most reasonable, but it is the most likely, at least in my opinion. Cities like Vegas and Memphis relocation cities. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. Maestas, a member of Sports Business Journals Forty Under 40 class of 2015. Welch said the plan should keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the long term. 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? Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. 2023 Leaders Group. How awesome would a brand new baseball stadium look near the Las Vegas strip? 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. 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.. A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . Tampa Bay Rays president Brian Auld told councilmember Charlie Miranda that . , 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 faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. "Following a joint assessment of the . With this trade to re-acquire Javy Guerra, Tampa Bay is adding an intriguing arm to their group of relievers. The previously released exhibition schedule is expected to be revised. 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. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. The Montreal thing has come up a number of times the past few years. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. So is it possible? A playoff game. 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. 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. 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. Montreal was viable once so, of course, it can be again and the Blue Jays, through thick and thin, have stuck around. Tampa Bay Rays moving spring training site due to hurricane damage. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. 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. 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. 49 print issues delivered to your home or office. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. 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. The Rays Minor League camp will be based out of the Disney complex throughout Spring Training. The Tampa Bay Times reported on Sept. 29 that there was obvious damage done to the Charlotte Sports Park complex, noting that a worker on site described water damage and electrical issues inside the buildings. Plus, the only teams the Rays would have to compete with for attendance would be the Nevada Wolfpack and the UNLV Rebels' college teamswell, and the Lingerie Football League (pictured above), but I do not think they will be able to cause the same attendance troubles the Rays have at the moment. ", Plan outlined for new Rays park, redevelopment, Harper may return Tue., 160 days post-TJ surgery, Rangers ace deGrom 'frustrated' to land on IL, Twins will shut P Mahle down for at least 4 weeks, Cards broadcaster, 2-time champ Shannon dies, Giants' Yastrzemski (hamstring) likely IL-bound, Yankees to evaluate Judge's hip strain Monday, Mexico City's uphill climb toward landing an MLB franchise. However, there's no . Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. NHL Lightning & Panthers. Much like the last two cities on this list, Nashville would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than sorting through recruiting the Rays. 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. Other Franchises: Portland Trailblazers (one championship), Portland Timbers. Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazines awards, such as Forty Under 40, Game Changers and others. 1. Not to mention that the, Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, , at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. Legacy: Hartford is perhaps more known for its former franchise, aka The Whalers, then anything else. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. Charlotte Sports Park has been Tampa Bays Spring Training home since 2009. The Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the best stories in Major League Baseball since 2008 when they went from being the doormat of the American League to the World Series runner-up. Were always looking for top-tier events, like the Rays Spring Training, for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.. Rays president Brian Auld, who attended the mayor's event, said in a brief interview it is "a thrill" to see the project take a major step forward. But, lets say the Rays come to town. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. Team Puerto Ricos scheduled exhibition game against the Rays on Thursday, March 9 will now be hosted by the Atlanta Braves at North Port. There is also an established baseball tradition in Omaha with the College World Series played there every year. That means 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. In2014, the new stadium, which included a boardwalk food area behind the outfield fence and a grass berm seating area, was named the No. 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. "I am a child of the Gas Plant," Welch said. https://twitter.com/PDriscollTBT/status/1398317459220881408?s=20 So, even if the Rays do end up making the. 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. 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. They would have a fan base and really wouldnt effect the St.Louis Cardinals. Legacy: Charlotte has never been much of a baseball town. I'd say yes. Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. I decided to list 5 cities, one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. 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. 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). Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. December 2, 2022 in Grapefruit League Teams, Tampa Bay Rays. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. Nashville's pursuit of an MLB franchise might be gaining steam, if a Tampa City Council member is to be believed. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. So yes, these options are regional. Required fields are marked *. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. From 2009 to 2020, it also hosted the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League. Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. 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 . Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. However, the key stat here, is the Rays television audience. Other Franchises: Montreal Canadiens (24 championships). 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. It time to move on to more deserving cities. Analysis: Being about 20 minutes from the worldwide leader in sports, ESPN, might help you get the stakes up, but will it provide the lasting touch into sustaining a franchise long term? Related to that, and with a potential move there by the Rays, you'd have instant rivalry potential with the Seattle Mariners. It would work out, believe me it will. 1. The Rays' Major League spring workouts, plus a Feb. 28 home game, will take place at the Disney complex in Lake Buena Vista. the Tampa Bay Rays ridiculous plan to split their season between the Tampa area and Montreal. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. 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. 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'. 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. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. Population: 567,641 (28th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: None. The city has experimented with five different minor league baseball teams since 1903 with limited success. Click below to sign in. According to the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays have almost 100,000 fans watching their games (per game) at home due to the long trek from Tampa to St. Petersburg. Then they lost them. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. But why isnt it the first option? As a matter of fact, there were some in Charlotte that did not want to give the Knights a new stadium out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. With the Rays relocating, there were minor changes made to the Grapefruit League schedule, which MLB announced on Wednesday: Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Feb. 14, with early arrivals slated for Feb. 6. The Rays use the facility on a year-round basis for extended spring training, complex and instructional league play, and mini-camps. Why? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. 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. There is an obvious solution as to where . https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx.

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