Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. 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. 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. Learn More. 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. 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. Las Vegas has already lost out on the Sacramento Kings who decided to stay put and the Phoenix Coyotes decision to keep their franchise in its current location. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense 7. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. 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. 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. Other Franchises: Charlotte Bobcats, Carolina Panthers. 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. 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. "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. 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. They want to be next to a vibrant downtown," Welch said. 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 Rays announced earlier this month that they would not be able to host spring training at their facility in Port Charlotte because repairs to their complex could not be made in time for spring training. 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. There werent as many teams near the teams former spring training home Lake Buena Vista. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. But why isnt it the first option? Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. Charlotte, N.C. 2 of 5 While the Whalers were a popular franchise in Hartford, Hartford is just plain inexperienced at handling major league sports. PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. 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. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. 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. A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. 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. 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. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. That's an extra 25,000 and a total attendance of 43,000-plus. 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'. The Spurs have been world class forwellever it seems. Were always looking for top-tier events, like the Rays Spring Training, for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will provide our players and coaches with first-class facilities for their annual ramp-up to the season.. Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. The move to Central Florida comes after the team's facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September. 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast, Nats Parks New BetMGM Sportsbook is Great. 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. In 2021, as part of an overall reorganization of minor league baseball, the Rays moved theirClass A-advanced affiliate to South Carolina. The Rays have trained since 2009 in Port Charlotte, Florida, about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, and intend to explore several options before making a . Will Charlotte get MLB team? 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. In the case of the Tampa Bay Rays, relocation and contraction have been words that have plagued the franchise, both through years and years of frustrating on the field struggles and during a still-running streak of division winning success. But, lets say the Rays come to town. 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 Braves used the Disney facility for 22 years, most recently in 2019, before moving their Spring Training operations to CoolToday Park in North Port. 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. Team officials said there was not enough time to get the park in suitable condition to host games. With this trade to re-acquire Javy Guerra, Tampa Bay is adding an intriguing arm to their group of relievers. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Imagine converting one-fourth of that 100,000 television audience to home games live. 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. 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. I think the loyal sports followers would go, but I think the biggest problem would be how spoiled the fans would be. San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. That being said, lets get to it! The multifield complex will give the Rays the space they need for their Spring Training workouts. Find out what works well at Tampa Bay Rays from the people who know best. 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. QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. 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. Award-winning original reporting, with in-depth profiles, timely research and expert opinions on the biggest issues and stories in sports business. 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. 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. Not to mention that the Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. Population: 807,584 (14th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. 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). Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda on Sept. 28. So, even if the Rays do end up making the. 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. This is why the Rays rank in the bottom half for attendance (at roughly 18,000-plus per) and even then, you have a large portion being visiting fans (snow birds or local residents who hailed from other states before the Rays existed). Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Along with other list member Charlotte, Portland was a finalist for the Expos franchise but lost out to Washington. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. https://twitter.com/PDriscollTBT/status/1398317459220881408?s=20 Period. Right now, even as it struggles for in-person fans, Tampa draws close to 15 percent of Hartford's entire population per game. Co-founder and retired executive of the Orlando Magic. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. It did help with putting us a little more on the map with travelers and tourists, he added. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. Orlando is a smaller city than Tampa, but it gains much more tourist revenue. A spokeswoman for Simpson confirmed that he and other Pasco County state legislators would consider seeking state aid for a proposed training site, depending on the details.. Tampa This was the only city that was going to be number 1. Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. In2014, the new stadium, which included a boardwalk food area behind the outfield fence and a grass berm seating area, was named the No. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. Seattle Mariners unveil City Connect uniforms. Why are the Rays in St Pete? 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. The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down the Tampa Bay Rays ridiculous plan to split their season between the Tampa area and Montreal. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. 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 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. It would work out, believe me it will. However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. 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. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. Legacy: San Antonio is known as a basketball town with the two major franchises being the NBA and the WNBA. 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. The previously released exhibition schedule is expected to be revised. The latest personnel hires and promotions, plus exclusive ratings and research from the sports industry. 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. 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. Privacy Policy. Why? The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. There was also a proposal to split their home games between St. Petersburg and Montreal that was rejected by Major League Baseball. The team's lease with their Spring training facility in Port Charlotte runs through 2028. Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. But, lets say the Rays come to town. Archived post. The Rays' Major League spring workouts, plus a Feb. 28 home game, will take place at the Disney complex in Lake Buena Vista. Not only is it the most reasonable, but it is the most likely, at least in my opinion. 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. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. The 2023 Tampa Bay Rays season is the 26th season of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise and their 16th as the Rays. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa.
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