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 . "This selection validates all the hard work," Auld said. Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. 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 Nationals Stink, BAD. If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? 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. The city has experimented with five different minor league baseball teams since 1903 with limited success. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. It did help with putting us a little more on the map with travelers and tourists, he added. Residents of Dunedin, the Florida governor's "blue-collar" hometown, are split on whether his values mirror the city's. 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 Bay Rays ridiculous plan to split their season between the Tampa area and Montreal. 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. 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. Tampa Bays home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, Feb. 26, has been removed from the schedule. Tampa Bay Rays. 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. I believe MLB put teams in the Florida region to see how they fare because they regularly had spring training like Arizona so they tested the market. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. Renderings indicate the old stadium would be demolished. Other Franchises: Montreal Canadiens (24 championships). 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. Hartford hasn't really experimented in any of the other major American sports and when they lost the Whalers, they lost all access to major sports. K.C. 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. Analysis: Baseball can work in Texas. A spokesman for Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declined to comment as well, noting that the city would not be involved in that concept. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Tampa Bay Rays are relocating their spring base for 2023 due to extensive damage to team training facilities caused by Hurricane Ian. 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 . Orlando is a smaller city than Tampa, but it gains much more tourist revenue. 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). Charlotte is a great city that baseball should look to expand to, but for the Rays, its not the right option. 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. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. 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. Welch said the plan should keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the long term. So it came as some surprise that the attendance for a 'home' franchise is so low (with, at least, fans originating from Tampa without ties to other franchises). Chief Business Officer Bill Walsh said that the team also made other ticket pricing adjustments around their ballpark to make sure that folks who maybe tuned in to the evening news and caught wind of what was happening here, that if they went to our website they could find some tickets, if not for $10, maybe within close proximity to that (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/24 issue). Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring training locations. 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. So getting people to go to games wouldn't be a problem (and heck, out of 1.3 million people, someone has to like baseball there, right?). But it happens, even to the best of teams, the best of fans and even the most successful of franchises. The Rays and Charlotte County announced on Dec. 1 that the club would not be able to hold Spring Training at Charlotte Sports Park. Learn More. Privacy Policy. stories and Draft takeaways; The premise behind Wasserman Ventures; Tony Ressler's grand vision for Atlanta and early schedule highlights from an expanded CFP. 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. We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. 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 market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. Not to mention that the Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. The team is considering several options and hopes to make a decision in the next few weeks. Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training: Southern Exposure. On a personal note, I am a Rays fan living outside of Florida (though born and raised in Tampa, represent!) PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. Teams that cant draw or have stadium problems should get a 5 year out if these issues are not fixed. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/G. 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. 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. Legacy:Besides the two major sports of basketball and football, in which the Indianapolis crowd has been lucky to have very storied franchises with big names, Indianapolis is home to prestigious racing, WNBA, and, as of late, major college basketball success with Butler. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will provide our players and coaches with first-class facilities for their annual ramp-up to the season.. The stadium, where the Rays have conducted Spring Training since 2009, sustained water damage and electrical issues. 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). Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. One of the drawbacks, however, would be the very low population. Much like the last two cities on this list, Nashville would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than sorting through recruiting the Rays. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. 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 Rays have trained since . 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. 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. So is it their time yet? 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,. Not much has changed in Tampa Bay this year either. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. 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." The storm struck the southwest coast of Florida and slowly moved across the state. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. 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 ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. 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. 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. . 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. 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. 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. Tampa Bay Rays moving spring training site due to hurricane damage. 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. 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. 5. The Rays dropped to 14-1 at home after losing to the Astros. 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. The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball's best offense, . 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. Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda on Sept. 28. "At the moment there's not something concrete with any of these clubs, but I'm told he's open to make a top club move in the summer so it's one to watch for sure. 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. The 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. 2023 Leaders Group. Pacers fans are immensely loyal and, regardless of talent or win totals, it always seems the Pacers are blue collar and supported as such. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. 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. [Source: TampaBay.com] 10 Things To Know About The 2022 Gameplan for a Rays Stadium in Ybor. However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. 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. 4.26.2023. The Trop was built as a hockey arena, and even the Lightning found it wasn't as suitable for it, moving to the Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. There is an obvious solution as to where . They had 35 years with very little success (one NLCS appearance and the best record in baseball in 1994. 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. The Rays' current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp," a spokesperson wrote in an email to 10 Tampa Bay. Team officials said there was not enough time to get the park in suitable condition to host games. Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. But appearances can be deceiving, and there's . The team and county officials put out a joint statement Thursday night saying, in part, that after a joint assessment of the damage, both parties 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. 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. 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. 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast, Nats Parks New BetMGM Sportsbook is Great. 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. 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. In 2021, as part of an overall reorganization of minor league baseball, the Rays moved theirClass A-advanced affiliate to South Carolina. Archived post. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. The Rays have arguably the best bullpen in the big leagues. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. Rays to Disney's sports complex before games at the Trop. 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. I think the loyal sports followers would go, but I think the biggest problem would be how spoiled the fans would be. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. The move to Central Florida comes after the team's facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September. Wed be very sad to see them go. 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. 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. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. 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. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. 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 dropped to 14-1 . Same goes for the Colts. 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. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. 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, which first hosted the Rays in 2009, followinga $28 million renovation. Charlotte seems like it could be a great fit for a professional baseball team. 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. There was significant damage and heavy flooding throughout Port Charlotte and Charlotte County after Hurricane Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda, Fla., on Sept. 28. Find out what works well at Tampa Bay Rays from the people who know best. Legacy: The Portland Beavers have been a AAA affiliate (or minor league affiliate in some capacity) since the beginning of the 20th century. and I recently flew into Tampa for a three game series and getting to Tropicana Field from Tampa itself was a pain in the butt. 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 two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense, 7. Is it reasonable to assume 15 to 30 percent of the entire city would go to a baseball game. Not to mention that the, Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, , at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. 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. Baseball Legacy: Tampa and its bay area is, of course, a major player in the MLB spring training. Floridians dont care about baseball as much hence Florida Marlins. History. Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. 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. The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. 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. 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. Seattle Mariners unveil City Connect uniforms. Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated his desire to expand to 32 teams. Let's be real. As a matter of fact, there were some in, Charlotte that did not want to give the Knights a new stadium. 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. Tampa Bay Rays president Brian Auld told councilmember Charlie Miranda that . | Powered By: Web Seo Wiz. Well see, he added. I think it is about time the world's largest playground gets a professional sports team. 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). 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). 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. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? Why are the Rays in St Pete? 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? With this trade to re-acquire Javy Guerra, Tampa Bay is adding an intriguing arm to their group of relievers. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. They want to be next to a vibrant downtown," Welch said. 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. Population: 454,731 (40th among U.S. cities). Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). PETERSBURG -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. The Rays current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp.. Cities like Vegas and Memphis relocation cities. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. 1:50. 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. That said, on this list, I find this destination the least likely. Guerra isn't exactly a . The Rays will likely not be able to use TD Ameritrade Park though because of the minor league teams in the city, plus it can only fit around 24,000 fans. 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. 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. Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? 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. 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. 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. Analysis: I'm not joking when I put this as my choice. Were always looking for top-tier events, like the Rays Spring Training, for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. But the infrastructure is there, in case the idea is ever there. Why? While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. Team Puerto Ricos scheduled exhibition game against the Rays on Thursday, March 9 will now be hosted by the Atlanta Braves at North Port. 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. The Grizzlies were 27th in NBA attendance, but this is largely due to their struggles during the regular season. We are thankful for Disneys willingness and ability to accommodate our unexpected Spring Training needs, Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. 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. The Rays faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. Timely, daily updates provide the latest developments and news relied upon by industry leaders.