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 Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? and our The previously released exhibition schedule is expected to be revised. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. 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. "It will no longer be a dream denied. ST. PETERSBURG -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. PETERSBURG The Rays may soon stand alone as baseball's problem child. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. 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? The Rays dropped to 14-1 at home after losing to the Astros. To see a team that appears on the decline (at least from the perspective of two 90 win seasons in the last few years) go to a new city and perhaps, stink, may give San Antonio pause. "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. 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. Charlotte Sports Park has been Tampa Bays Spring Training home since 2009. History. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Lets give Tennessee its own team instead. Population: 676,640 (19th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Sports Teams in the City: Memphis Grizzlies. 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. The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. Other Franchises: Portland Trailblazers (one championship), Portland Timbers. Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated his desire to expand to 32 teams. 1. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Tampa Bay Rays moving spring training site due to hurricane damage. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. Its also a decent distance from Florida. 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 two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense, 7. 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. 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 . Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. 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. Other Franchises: San Antonio Spurs (four championships), San Antonio Silver Stars. "It's not just for a ballgame but an entire experience.". "We are solely focused on the Sister City plan and keeping the Rays in Tampa Bay for generations," said Rays' president Brian Auld. 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. In this story: Raiders owner Mark Davis knows a thing or two about moving a team from Oakland to Las Vegas. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. | Powered By: Web Seo Wiz. one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. The Rays faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. There isnt really an issue with this proposal. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. 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. However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. A playoff game. 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. Required fields are marked *. Population:709,441 (18th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Carolina Panthers. 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. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. On a personal note, I am a Rays fan living outside of Florida (though born and raised in Tampa, represent!) Where . 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. Will Charlotte get MLB team? Pacers fans are immensely loyal and, regardless of talent or win totals, it always seems the Pacers are blue collar and supported as such. Download it here. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? In Charlotte, the team would be missed, Doherty said, but admitted that the loss of the Stone Crabs proved to be a dress rehearsal for that possibility. However, the key stat here, is the Rays television audience. 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. They have a lease that runs through 2031 after recent extensions, according to the Port Charlotte Sun. 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 market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. 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. "This selection validates all the hard work," Auld said. MLB Power Rankings: Who's No. 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. 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 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 . 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. 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,. 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 Rays and Charlotte County announced on Dec. 1 that the club would not be able to hold Spring Training at Charlotte Sports Park. 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. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. The Toronto Blue Jays will now play the Rays at Tropicana Field on that date. 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. Disney World visitors would pounce on the opportunity for other entertainment, similar to how the Golden Knights of the NHL built up their attendance by pouncing on bored Vegas visitors who had run out of shows to see and money to gamble away. The mayor's grandfather ran a woodyard business there before the neighborhood was essentially obliterated by Tropicana Field. 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. 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). Tampa residents Dennis Gallagher and his daughter Kate wait for the start of the Tampa Bay Rays final home spring training game last season. The city's population ranking has shot up from 63rd to 28th since 1990, which is also another great reason to establish a professional sports team in Las Vegas. Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. Timely, daily updates provide the latest developments and news relied upon by industry leaders. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. 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. They have a temporary stadium that could possibly be upgraded. 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast, Nats Parks New BetMGM Sportsbook is Great. (AP image). Why? Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. 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. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? But appearances can be deceiving, and there's . If the Rays were to leave the Tampa-St.Pete area, this should be the first place they should consider going. "Following a joint assessment of the . Right now, even as it struggles for in-person fans, Tampa draws close to 15 percent of Hartford's entire population per game. There was also a proposal to split their home games between St. Petersburg and Montreal that was rejected by Major League Baseball. The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field as members of Major League Baseball's American League East Division.. 1:50. So while baseball might take some getting used to, Indianapolis is fond of many sports and has the population to support it. 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. Period. December 2, 2022 in Grapefruit League Teams, Tampa Bay Rays. 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). 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. Uncover why Tampa Bay Rays is the best company for you. The Spurs have been world class forwellever it seems. Legacy: Montreal once had the Expos. Proximity of the Rays in Port Charlotte as well as the Orioles and Pirates to the north and Red Sox and Twins to the south in Fort Myers was one of several factors when the Atlanta Braves decided to move theirspring training quarters to North Port. Click below to sign in. 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. 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. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. A history in Charlotte County. Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. Finally it makes sense for travel times too, every team in the AL East is closer to Charlotte than Tampa by several hours of flight, and very few teams in any division would have further travel times. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. Walt Disney World Resort said its looking forward to providing. Renderings indicate the old stadium would be demolished. 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 market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. Its the fifth fastest growing city in the US, and a growing city for sports aswell with the Panthers boasting the 7th highest average attendence in 2018 despite being a relatively new expansion team, 5. Well, until the strike hit anyway). Already a subscriber? Analysis: I'm not joking when I put this as my choice. 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. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. They would have a fan base and really wouldnt effect the St.Louis Cardinals. Nashvilles high interest makes them the most attractive of the out of state relocation options, but again, a desire for a new team and a lack of a temporary stadium make this difficult when they collide with the Rays lengthy lease and their TV deals in Florida. Lets be real. 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. One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. Why are the Rays in St Pete? 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. The latest personnel hires and promotions, plus exclusive ratings and research from the sports industry. 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. There are already 2 teams in Texas that have been there for a. time (Astros since 1962, Rangers since 1971), and they have taken up the majority of the fan interest. The Rays have not yet finalized their plans for Spring Training, but they are considering a variety of options. It did help with putting us a little more on the map with travelers and tourists, he added. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. Daily updates aggregating the stories and spin from more than 600 outlets across the globe. 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. 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.. The storm struck the southwest coast of Florida and slowly moved across the state. 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 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. Doherty noted that while the Stone Crabs offered some family friendly fun, the county was successful in attractingyouth tournaments to recoup some tourism dollars. The city of Indianapolis already has a winning team in the Colts, but there is no reason the Rays cannot succeed in Indy as well. Not only is it the most reasonable, but it is the most likely, at least in my opinion. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. 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. Your email address will not be published. The team's lease with their Spring training facility in Port Charlotte runs through 2028. , 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. Montreal was viable once so, of course, it can be again and the Blue Jays, through thick and thin, have stuck around. 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. Like Indy, I find the market perfect due to the population numbers and lack of in-city competition during the high-ratings portions of the leagues but see the fan expectations as an issue. 49 print issues delivered to your home or office. 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'. 'Believe in the power of cheese': How a group of rookies helped give the Brewers the best vibes in baseball, Fantasy baseball: Load up on San Diego bats this weekend. 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 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. So would bringing a team back there make sense? 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. Your email address will not be published. Then they lost them. 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. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/G. Other Franchises: Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts (five total championships, two Super Bowl victories), Indiana Fever. The city has experimented with five different minor league baseball teams since 1903 with limited success. 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. Tampa Bay's 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. Analysis: With the Tampa Bay area splitting residents up all over the place, an increase in population could work in the Rays favor if they moved to Charlotte. As part of the move to Charlotte, the Rays moved their Class A team from Vero Beach to Charlotte County. SBJ I Factor presented by Allied Sports features an interview with Navigate founder A.J. The Rays have trained in Port Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, since 2009. Other Franchises: No major sport franchises. Why? 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. "Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training," the statement . Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.
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