Why? Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. Orlando is a smaller city than Tampa, but it gains much more tourist revenue. Tampa Bay Rays president Brian Auld told councilmember Charlie Miranda that . 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. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. 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 And any time a team threatens or considers folding, Portland is in the cards. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. 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 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 -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. 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. 1. 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 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Legacy: Hartford is perhaps more known for its former franchise, aka The Whalers, then anything else. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. 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'. While the Whalers were a popular franchise in Hartford, Hartford is just plain inexperienced at handling major league sports. The mayor's grandfather ran a woodyard business there before the neighborhood was essentially obliterated by Tropicana Field. The Montreal thing has come up a number of times the past few years. This was the only city that was going to be number 1. 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. 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. Pacers fans are immensely loyal and, regardless of talent or win totals, it always seems the Pacers are blue collar and supported as such. The Rays current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp.. 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. Right now, even as it struggles for in-person fans, Tampa draws close to 15 percent of Hartford's entire population per game. They also need a home for their minor-league teams to train. Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. 1? Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Then they lost them. 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,. and our Uncover why Tampa Bay Rays is the best company for you. Column: Another domino falls on road to MLB expansion Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. Privacy Policy. Ron DeSantis' Tampa Bay hometown has evolved. Does it still claim him? History. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. Plan outlined for new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, redevelopment - ESPN 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 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. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. 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. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense, 7. A city that has history rooting for other teams would find it more appealing to take the time to build a stadium for an original team and to start new than bring in a franchise that already has 20+ years of history in another state. Click below to sign in. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. 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. MLB: 5 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Should Move to Immediately Floridians dont care about baseball as much hence Florida Marlins. The Rays have had a charmed first month of the 2023 season, and plays like the one Wander Franco made against the Astros on Monday are what's fueled such a dominant start. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. So yes, these options are regional. The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training. San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. MLB Power Rankings: Who's No. 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). Population: 676,640 (19th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Sports Teams in the City: Memphis Grizzlies. 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. . But, lets say the Rays come to town. Column: Another domino falls on road to MLB expansion 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. SBJ I Factor presented by Allied Sports features an interview with Navigate founder A.J. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. 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. Co-founder and retired executive of the Orlando Magic Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. 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. Rays moving camp site due to hurricane damage - ESPN Your email address will not be published. All rights reserved. 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. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. Team officials said there was not enough time to get the park in suitable condition to host games. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. With Rays ownership seeming more and more likely to move out of their current spot once their lease at the dreaded Tropicana Field ends in 2027, I decided to take a look at some possible cities in the United States the Rays could possibly end up. 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. Charlotte Sports Park - Wikipedia The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense 7. So, even if the Rays do end up making the. Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training - Spring Training Online One of the drawbacks, however, would be the very low population. 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. Relocation and contraction are words no fan wants to hear, especially if it involves their beloved team. However, the key stat here, is the Rays television audience. If the Rays were to leave the Tampa-St.Pete area, this should be the first place they should consider going. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. The latter ideacomes from state Sen. William Simpson, R-Trilby, current senate president. The multifield complex will give the Rays the space they need for their Spring Training workouts. If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? He also knows a thing or two about the Athletics, the MLB franchise that the Raiders . 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. 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. PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. 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. Here is a look at seven cities that could benefit from the addition of a major league franchise, in this case, the Tampa Bay Rays. The Spurs have been world class forwellever it seems. 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. Rays to move spring training from storm-damaged Port Charlotte facility 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. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . 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. On a personal note, I am a Rays fan living outside of Florida (though born and raised in Tampa, represent!) Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. 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. With a . Moving the Rays to Charlotte is not only a good move, but an - Reddit Yes. A playoff game. 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. "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. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. 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 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. 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. MLB Realignment: 7 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Could Relocate to If Is it reasonable to assume 15 to 30 percent of the entire city would go to a baseball game. One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. The Rays Minor League camp will be based out of the Disney complex throughout Spring Training. But appearances can be deceiving, and there's . The previously released exhibition schedule is expected to be revised. Get notified on your phone in the morning with the latest forecast and news to start your day. Period. Walt Disney World Resort said its looking forward to providing. Well see, he added. Oh, and they have been doing all this while remaining in the bottom third of the MLB's payroll rankings. 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. The Tampa Bay Rays are still considering a move to Tampa after winning the bid to redevelop part of St. Petersburg's Historic Gas Plant District, the team's president, Brian Auld, told Patch. Required fields are marked *. 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 . Population: 567,641 (28th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: None. 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. Its also a decent distance from Florida. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged due to Hurricane Ian, the team plans on opening spring at Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. 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. Not to mention a name change the Rays would have to do, to something like the Stars or Outlaws. 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. , 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. Were always looking for top-tier events, like the Rays Spring Training, for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.. 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. Tampa residents Dennis Gallagher and his daughter Kate wait for the start of the Tampa Bay Rays final home spring training game last season. Orlando is a fantastic in-state option for the Rays, and it doesnt have the cumbersome cost of starting the fanbase over or getting out of a valuable TV deal across the state of Florida. 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. Overall, Welch said, the idea is to create a destination for people who come to Rays games, as well as build a new community. PETERSBURG The Rays may soon stand alone as baseball's problem child. 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. . QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? 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. It would work out, believe me it will. 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. The 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. As part of the move to Charlotte, the Rays moved their Class A team from Vero Beach to Charlotte County. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. There has been discussion from some investors, 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. In 2021, as part of an overall reorganization of minor league baseball, the Rays moved theirClass A-advanced affiliate to South Carolina. So is it their time yet? Other Franchises: Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts (five total championships, two Super Bowl victories), Indiana Fever. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. Imagine converting one-fourth of that 100,000 television audience to home games live. 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. Guerra isn't exactly a . Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. 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 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. Portland folk love to rival up against their northern state rivals and a MLB showdown 10 to 15 times a year would get the fans raring to go. 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. 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. But why isnt it the first option? 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? It might be easier to root for the Red Sox or Yankees if you live in Connecticut, but I just have a gut feeling a Hartford team would be a resounding success. (AP image). The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. NEXT IN LINE: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes Tampa Bay civic leaders are "on the clock and it is ticking ever so loudly on your status as a Major League Baseball area. As the situation in Oakland was resolved just a few days ago when the As announced they purchased land in Las Vegas to build a ballpark, 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 (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/26). 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. Move the Tampa Rays to Memphis. 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 . Award-winning original reporting, with in-depth profiles, timely research and expert opinions on the biggest issues and stories in sports business. The stadium, where the Rays have conducted Spring Training since 2009, sustained water damage and electrical issues. "It's not just for a ballgame but an entire experience.". 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.. sun PHOTO BY TOM O'NEILL However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. 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. Where are the Tampa Bay Rays moving to? | Dependable Danny - Nationals Lead Writer: @Nats_Baseball, Matt - Nationals Lead Writer: @HolleranMDH, 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast . I think the loyal sports followers would go, but I think the biggest problem would be how spoiled the fans would be. "One to watch" - Chelsea, Man Utd & Newcastle - Yardbarker
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