The Rays' Major League spring workouts, plus a Feb. 28 home game, will take place at the Disney complex in Lake Buena Vista. The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. 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. 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. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? 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. QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? 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 Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. Orlando is a smaller city than Tampa, but it gains much more tourist revenue. Doherty noted that while the Stone Crabs offered some family friendly fun, the county was successful in attractingyouth tournaments to recoup some tourism dollars. one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. , 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. Privacy Policy. Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. The team's lease with their Spring training facility in Port Charlotte runs through 2028. 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. So, even if the Rays do end up making the. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense, 7. 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 . Co-founder and retired executive of the Orlando Magic. 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. 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 downsides of this proposal are apparent. 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. We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. 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. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. Other Franchises: Charlotte Bobcats, Carolina Panthers. 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. But, lets say the Rays come to town. 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. But as for baseball, Indianapolis has the AAA affiliate for the usually awful Pittsburgh Pirates. That said, on this list, I find this destination the least likely. 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. But, lets say the Rays come to town. Daily updates aggregating the stories and spin from more than 600 outlets across the globe. Period. Charlotte Sports Park has been Tampa Bay's Spring Training home since 2009. The Rays' current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp," a spokesperson wrote in an email to 10 Tampa Bay. 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. 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 . 1. At first, it seems like an odd move for the Tampa Bay Rays to abandon one of the cushiest spring-training setups in baseball and leave scenic Al Lang Field in downtown St. Petersburg for a spring-training site once abandoned by the Texas Rangers. But the population, mostly consisting of people aged between 20 and 50 and with a solid but still lower-to-middle income, might enjoy a change of sports scenery. The Rays have not yet finalized their plans for Spring Training, but they are considering a variety of options. In2014, the new stadium, which included a boardwalk food area behind the outfield fence and a grass berm seating area, was named the No. 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. 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. 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. With a . 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. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. However, the key stat here, is the Rays television audience. Team officials said there was not enough time to get the park in suitable condition to host games. However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. History. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. 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. 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. Other Franchises: No major sport franchises. 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. sun PHOTO BY TOM O'NEILL The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. 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. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. 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. "It's not just for a ballgame but an entire experience.". PETERSBURG The Rays may soon stand alone as baseball's problem child. 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. There werent as many teams near the teams former spring training home Lake Buena Vista. Well see, he added. Let's be real. Related to that, and with a potential move there by the Rays, you'd have instant rivalry potential with the Seattle Mariners. Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The Rays Minor League camp will be based out of the Disney complex throughout Spring Training. The Rays Major League spring workouts, plus a Feb. 28 home game, will take place at the Disney complex in Lake Buena Vista. In this story: Raiders owner Mark Davis knows a thing or two about moving a team from Oakland to Las Vegas. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will provide our players and coaches with first-class facilities for their annual ramp-up to the season.. Nashville's pursuit of an MLB franchise might be gaining steam, if a Tampa City Council member is to be believed. Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. Tampa Bay Rays president Brian Auld told councilmember Charlie Miranda that . 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 Rays have trained since . Overall, Welch said, the idea is to create a destination for people who come to Rays games, as well as build a new community. There isnt really an issue with this proposal. The team is considering several options and hopes to make a decision in the next few weeks. Is it likely? "It will no longer be a dream denied. 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. They want to be next to a vibrant downtown," Welch said. 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. Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. 4/24/2023 - Tampa Bay Rays amplify the wave to capitalize on record-tying start, SBJ Spotlight: Rich McKay of AMB Sports and Entertainment, Anquan Boldin on how the Players Coalition continues to fight for social justice, Jalen Rose on being a business-minded athlete, and why NIL is good for college players, Bill Simmons on the creation of ESPNs 30 for 30 documentaries. 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 plan calls for a new domed stadium to be ready for the 2028 season opener; the Rays' current stadium lease is up in 2027. Analysis: Baseball can work in Texas. The Rays and Charlotte County announced on Dec. 1 that the club would not be able to hold Spring Training at Charlotte Sports Park. 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 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. December 1, 2022. 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. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. stories and Draft takeaways; The premise behind Wasserman Ventures; Tony Ressler's grand vision for Atlanta and early schedule highlights from an expanded CFP. I think it is about time the world's largest playground gets a professional sports team. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. "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. Baseball Legacy: Tampa and its bay area is, of course, a major player in the MLB spring training. That being said, lets get to it! 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. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. the Tampa Bay Rays ridiculous plan to split their season between the Tampa area and Montreal. The Rays also have history at The Stadium, formerly known as Champion Stadium. 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. The 2023 Tampa Bay Rays season is the 26th season of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise and their 16th as the Rays. 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 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. The Nationals Stink, BAD. Charlotte Sports Park (formerly known as Charlotte County Stadium and Ranger Stadium) is a baseball stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida.The stadium is the home field for Tampa Bay Rays spring training operations, as well as its Rookie-class Florida Complex League Rays teams. Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. Not to mention a name change the Rays would have to do, to something like the Stars or Outlaws. I think MLB view cities like Montreal, Portland, Nashville, Charlotte and possibly Mexico City as possible expansion cities. But This is What You Should Have Expected, Mocking the Nationals Offseason, Early Postseason Edition, Mr. Soto or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Washington Nationals, Nats Prospects or: The Art of Tempering Expectations. 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. Its also a decent distance from Florida. Download it here. 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. Uncover why Tampa Bay Rays is the best company for you. 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. 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. 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. Tampa residents Dennis Gallagher and his daughter Kate wait for the start of the Tampa Bay Rays final home spring training game last season. Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. 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'. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Bay Times reported on Sept. 29 that there was obvious damage done to the Charlotte Sports Park complex, noting that a worker on site described water damage and electrical issues inside the buildings. Cookie Notice 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. Your email address will not be published. Relocation and contraction are words no fan wants to hear, especially if it involves their beloved team. As part of the move to Charlotte, the Rays moved their Class A team from Vero Beach to Charlotte County. The Rangers and Astros have been centerpieces of MLB for decades. 1 one month into the season? 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 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. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. 5. 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.. A. . 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 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. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship). https://twitter.com/PDriscollTBT/status/1398317459220881408?s=20 Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training: Southern Exposure. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. "Following a joint assessment of the . From 2009 to 2020, it also hosted the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League. PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. So is it possible? 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). Yes. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. 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? Along with other list member Charlotte, Portland was a finalist for the Expos franchise but lost out to Washington. December 2, 2022 in Grapefruit League Teams, Tampa Bay Rays. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. 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. City officials decided early on that the city would attempt to attract Major League Baseball. 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. 49 print issues delivered to your home or office. "This selection validates all the hard work," Auld said. San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. "Folks want to be here. But the infrastructure is there, in case the idea is ever there. Tampa Bay Rays. Required fields are marked *. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. Archived post. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. 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. Same goes for the Colts. NHL Lightning & Panthers. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. The Rays have trained in Port Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, since 2009. The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball's best offense, . However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Population: 807,584 (14th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers. 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. 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. ST. PETERSBURG -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. Seattle Mariners unveil City Connect uniforms. With this trade to re-acquire Javy Guerra, Tampa Bay is adding an intriguing arm to their group of relievers. Award-winning original reporting, with in-depth profiles, timely research and expert opinions on the biggest issues and stories in sports business. Population: 567,641 (28th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: None. Maestas, a member of Sports Business Journals Forty Under 40 class of 2015. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. 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 . A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . The Rays faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. 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. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. It would work out, believe me it will. The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. 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. Analysis: I'm not joking when I put this as my choice. 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. 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. 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. And even if the Rays create a mini-dynasty and win four of the next five championships, the current situation (crappy stadium, poor attendance, terrible local access) at a consistent rate will cause the owners and operators to question the viability of a Tampa franchise. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. They have a lease that runs through 2031 after recent extensions, according to the Port Charlotte Sun. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market.
tampa bay rays moving to charlotte
tampa bay rays moving to charlotte
tampa bay rays moving to charlotte