I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. I think it is about time the world's largest playground gets a professional sports team. Much like the last two cities on this list, Nashville would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than sorting through recruiting the Rays. Moving the Rays to Charlotte is not only a good move, but an - Reddit 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. We are thankful for Disneys willingness and ability to accommodate our unexpected Spring Training needs, Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. 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. 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 Hurricane Ian. 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. So, even if the Rays do end up making the. The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball's best offense, . Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. 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. Rays to move spring training from storm-damaged Port Charlotte facility The Spurs have been world class forwellever it seems. 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.. Tampa residents Dennis Gallagher and his daughter Kate wait for the start of the Tampa Bay Rays final home spring training game last season. While the Whalers were a popular franchise in Hartford, Hartford is just plain inexperienced at handling major league sports. Population: 454,731 (40th among U.S. cities). 1 one month into the season? 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. So would bringing a team back there make sense? 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 market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. The Rays have not yet finalized their plans for Spring Training, but they are considering a variety of options. Where are the Tampa Bay Rays moving to? | Dependable 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. 1 spring training destination by the readers of USA Today and 10Best. NFL Owner Rips Baseball Team for Plans to Move to Las Vegas Its also a decent distance from Florida. Its also a decent distance from Florida. However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. But as for baseball, Indianapolis has the AAA affiliate for the usually awful Pittsburgh Pirates. 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. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will provide our players and coaches with first-class facilities for their annual ramp-up to the season.. "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. "Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training," the statement . 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. A playoff game. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. 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. Not to mention that the Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. As a matter of fact, there were some in, Charlotte that did not want to give the Knights a new stadium. Ron DeSantis' Tampa Bay hometown has evolved. Does it still claim him? When the Athletics tidy up the multi-billion-dollar details in Sin City, where they're expected to reside by the 2027 season if not sooner, a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays will be the last . 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. Danny - Nationals Lead Writer: @Nats_Baseball, Matt - Nationals Lead Writer: @HolleranMDH, 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast . 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. The Montreal thing has come up a number of times the past few years. One of the drawbacks, however, would be the very low population. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Feb. 14, with early arrivals slated for Feb. 6. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. Tampa Bay Rays Could Move To Pasco County - Q105 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. 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. December 1, 2022. 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? 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. 5. As part of the move to Charlotte, the Rays moved their Class A team from Vero Beach to Charlotte County. Daily updates aggregating the stories and spin from more than 600 outlets across the globe. That's an extra 25,000 and a total attendance of 43,000-plus. (AP image). Cookie Notice 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. The stadium, where the Rays have conducted Spring Training since 2009, sustained water damage and electrical issues. The facilities in Port Charlotte sustained heavy damage caused by Hurricane Ian, so officials from the team and county agreed to relocate the Rays Spring Training base while they clean up and repair the complex with plans to return in 2024. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. Tampa Bay Rays moving spring training site due to hurricane damage Officials: Tampa Bay Rays considering Pasco County training facility - KPNX The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense 7. The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. Why are the Rays in St Pete? one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. Not only is it the most reasonable, but it is the most likely, at least in my opinion. 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. 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. 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. MLB Realignment: 7 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Could Relocate to If Are Tampa Bay Rays considering Nashville relocation for MLB franchise? Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. 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). Well see, he added. 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. 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). Tampa Bay Rays Careers and Employment - Indeed Walt Disney World Resort said its looking forward to providing. How awesome would a brand new baseball stadium look near the Las Vegas strip? 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. Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). The Rays have trained since . However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. Nashville's pursuit of an MLB franchise might be gaining steam, if a Tampa City Council member is to be believed. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. In 2021, as part of an overall reorganization of minor league baseball, the Rays moved theirClass A-advanced affiliate to South Carolina. That being said, lets get to it! 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. With this trade to re-acquire Javy Guerra, Tampa Bay is adding an intriguing arm to their group of relievers. The Rays' current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp," a spokesperson wrote in an email to 10 Tampa Bay. There werent as many teams near the teams former spring training home Lake Buena Vista. 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. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring training locations. 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. Find out what works well at Tampa Bay Rays from the people who know best. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. 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. 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. Tampa Bay Rays moving spring training site due to hurricane damage. 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. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. 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. 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 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. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. Baseball Legacy: Tampa and its bay area is, of course, a major player in the MLB spring training. 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. PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. Team Puerto Ricos scheduled exhibition game against the Rays on Thursday, March 9 will now be hosted by the Atlanta Braves at North Port. Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring Is it likely? Perhaps not. Privacy Policy. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. Rays to Disney's sports complex before games at the Trop. The Rays Minor League camp will be based out of the Disney complex throughout Spring Training. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training - Spring Training Online Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training: Southern Exposure. 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. Analysis: I'm not joking when I put this as my choice. Relocate to Montreal or Nashville where they can draw fans, same can said for the Marlins, 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.. Floridians dont care about baseball as much hence Florida Marlins. "One to watch" - Chelsea, Man Utd & Newcastle - Yardbarker "It's not just for a ballgame but an entire experience.". 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. One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. 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. 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. The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. But, lets say the Rays come to town. Orlando is a smaller city than Tampa, but it gains much more tourist revenue. The decision affects both the major league and minor league camps. How is MLB expansion impacted by the Oakland A's likely move to Las The storm struck the southwest coast of Florida and slowly moved across the state. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. 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. 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. Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. 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. 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. 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,. out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. 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. 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. Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. 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. It did help with putting us a little more on the map with travelers and tourists, he added. 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'. Wed be very sad to see them go. Why? San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. 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. 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 early season success leads to attendance bump NO LEVER LEFT UNPULLED: SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL's Erik Bacharach noted the Rays started the season with 13 consecutive wins and the front office pulled all the levers it could to maximize, from a business perspective, the unexpected run of on-field success," including "efforts in ticketing, marketing and fan experience. The Rays relied heavily on their organic communications through social and email to capitalize on the buzz around the team -- especially as it related to ticketing." 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). The Rays faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. 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 . Charlotte is a great city that baseball should look to expand to, but for the Rays, its not the right option. The Rays declined through an email from a team spokesman to comment further. Id be on the road for leisure travel sales and when I mentioned I was from the Port Charlotte area, before the Rays came on, a lot of time Id get stares, because people didnt know where we were located, said Doherty who started with the bureau in 2005 as the sports marketing manager. Other Franchises: No major sport franchises. 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. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. Charlotte seems like it could be a great fit for a professional baseball team. The 2023 Tampa Bay Rays season is the 26th season of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise and their 16th as the Rays. Walt Disney World to host Tampa Bay Rays spring training New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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. 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. Rays moving camp site due to hurricane damage - ESPN There have also been professional leagues but, if substantial, it was back in the 19th century. Right now, even as it struggles for in-person fans, Tampa draws close to 15 percent of Hartford's entire population per game. They have a temporary stadium that could possibly be upgraded. Rays relocate 2023 spring workouts to Disney - MLB So while baseball might take some getting used to, Indianapolis is fond of many sports and has the population to support it. Rays Moving Spring Camp Due to Damage Caused by Hurricane - US News 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. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. Timely, daily updates provide the latest developments and news relied upon by industry leaders. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? Rays to move spring training from storm-damaged Port Charlotte facility 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.
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