"I am a child of the Gas Plant," Welch said. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Why are the Rays in St Pete? Charlotte seems like it could be a great fit for a professional baseball team. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. PETERSBURG The Rays may soon stand alone as baseball's problem child. 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. Firstly, one has to know that Nashville has an entire website dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. From 1998 to 2008, the Devil Rays played their spring training games at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, just a few blocks from Tropicana Field. Walt Disney World Resort said its looking forward to providing. 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. Let's be real. He also knows a thing or two about the Athletics, the MLB franchise that the Raiders . I believe MLB put teams in the Florida region to see how they fare because they regularly had spring training like Arizona so they tested the market. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. K.C. 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Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. . History. Wed be very sad to see them go. 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. 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. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. Oh, and they have been doing all this while remaining in the bottom third of the MLB's payroll rankings. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. 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. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. Attendance is always low. There has been discussion from some investors. 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. Legacy: Charlotte has never been much of a baseball town. Will Charlotte get MLB team? The downsides of this proposal are apparent. 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. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. "I pitched like that in 2021, and it was a good year from me, so I think moving there has had the same effect," said Garcia, who has lowered . Legacy: Montreal once had the Expos. Why? December 2, 2022 in Grapefruit League Teams, Tampa Bay Rays. With this trade to re-acquire Javy Guerra, Tampa Bay is adding an intriguing arm to their group of relievers. But the infrastructure is there, in case the idea is ever there. 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 . 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. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. 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. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. Overall, Welch said, the idea is to create a destination for people who come to Rays games, as well as build a new community. We are thankful for Disneys willingness and ability to accommodate our unexpected Spring Training needs, Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. The latter ideacomes from state Sen. William Simpson, R-Trilby, current senate president. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. I'd say yes. 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. With a . 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 not just for a ballgame but an entire experience.". Download our app, Charlotte Sports Park damaged due to Hurricane Ian, opening spring at Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Charlotte Sports Park sustained water and electrical damage, Rays updated Sprint Training schedule released, Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games, California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Rays to open Spring Traiing 2023 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, Rays beging Spring Training Feb. 14; will move operations to Tropicana Field March 1 and play games at Tropicana Field. QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? 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. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense 7. 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). 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. 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. 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 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. They want to be next to a vibrant downtown," Welch said. Id be on the road for leisure travel sales and when I mentioned I was from the Port Charlotte area, before the Rays came on, a lot of time Id get stares, because people didnt know where we were located, said Doherty who started with the bureau in 2005 as the sports marketing manager. 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. 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. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. 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. "Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training," the statement . Were always looking for top-tier events, like the Rays Spring Training, for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.. If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated his desire to expand to 32 teams. The Rays continue to look for a long-term answer to stay in Florida, asking for a new stadium to be built in Tampa. Same goes for the Colts. In 2018, he listed Nashville, along with Las Vegas, Charlotte, Montreal, Portland and Vancouver as potential . Other Franchises: Charlotte Bobcats, Carolina Panthers. 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. Team officials said there was not enough time to get the park in suitable condition to host games. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. 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. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Well see, he added. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. It did help with putting us a little more on the map with travelers and tourists, he added. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1. 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). In 2021, as part of an overall reorganization of minor league baseball, the Rays moved theirClass A-advanced affiliate to South Carolina. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. 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. It has had a AA and AAA squad (the current incarnation is the Charlotte Knights, who are the White Sox affiliate), but most professional sports have been basketball (the former Hornets and now the Bobcats) and football (the Panthers, who despite varied success, average in the top 10 in attendance). 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 Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. Welch, who is St. Petersburg's first Black mayor, emphasized that a key goal is to restore a majority Black neighborhood known as the Gas Plant District that was ousted by the stadium and a highway. That being said, lets get to it! 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. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. Rays to Disney's sports complex before games at the Trop. 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. 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. How awesome would a brand new baseball stadium look near the Las Vegas strip? A playoff game. 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. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. Then they lost them. 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). 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? ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will provide our players and coaches with first-class facilities for their annual ramp-up to the season.. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. Daily updates aggregating the stories and spin from more than 600 outlets across the globe. So yes, these options are regional. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 5. 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 . and our That said, on this list, I find this destination the least likely. 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 Rangers and Astros have been centerpieces of MLB for decades. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/G. One possibility could be playing their Grapefruit League games at Tropicana Field, but they would likely need a larger space with more fields to hold their workouts. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. Floridians dont care about baseball as much hence Florida Marlins. Imagine converting one-fourth of that 100,000 television audience to home games live. "This selection validates all the hard work," Auld said. 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. Population: 454,731 (40th among U.S. cities). 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. But as for baseball, Indianapolis has the AAA affiliate for the usually awful Pittsburgh Pirates. Much like the last two cities on this list, Nashville would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than sorting through recruiting the Rays. 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. I think it is about time the world's largest playground gets a professional sports team. The Trailblazers, in thick and thin (mostly thin in the last few decades), have stuck by them, and the Portland Timbers, a new MLS franchise, is making soccer viable in the US in at least one section of the country. 1:50. 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. They had 35 years with very little success (one NLCS appearance and the best record in baseball in 1994. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. The decision affects both the major league and minor league camps. The Rays use the facility on a year-round basis for extended spring training, complex and instructional league play, and mini-camps. 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. Your email address will not be published. The Rays Minor League camp will be based out of the Disney complex throughout Spring Training. 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. 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. Welch said the plan should keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the long term. The move to Central Florida comes after the team's facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September. Analysis: Fool me oncewhile the Expos had its fair share of ownership issues throughout its troubled history, the Expos also had very lousy attendance and, not for the last time, a Canadian team playing a United States game, had to go elsewhere. But, lets say the Rays come to town. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged from Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Rays will be on the move when Spring Training 2023 arrives. December 1, 2022. Residents of Dunedin, the Florida governor's "blue-collar" hometown, are split on whether his values mirror the city's. The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training. 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.