Theres no need to yet. TAMPA, Fla. - The possibility of the Tampa Bay Rays moving out of St. Petersburg could be closer to reality. "This is unnatural," Rays president Matt Silverman said. one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. "Wed just be moving them a little to the east.. Reality star Honey Boo Boo inside speeding car involved in chase with deputies in Georgia, Winner of $754M Powerball jackpot identified as Boeing employee in Washington, SEE: Brightline reaches maximum speed for first time, Florida bill guts local governments power to protect tenants, Florida pastor accused of selling church for drug money. With no answers from MLB on the vote, the team is focusing on great talks with Tampa Bay officials but needs to hear more details. is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, that has been the home of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB) since the team's inaugural season in 1998. 2. 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. world News, Hosted byByohostingMost Recommended Web Hosting for complains, abuse, advertising contact:o f f i c e @byohosting.com, Option to move Rays to Orlando must be raised, What bonuses are coming TODAY, 2023? The attendance-challenged Tampa Bay Rays have Major League Baseball's permission to play half their home games in Montreal, a city without baseball since the Expos left after the 2004 campaign. The Tampa Bay Rays may not be able to afford staying in Florida much longer. The Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area has the highest rate of homelessness in the nation, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness in a report issued earlier this year 57 homeless for every 10,000 residents. This area has approximately 16,000 homeless, and about one-fifth of them are children. Mike Bianchi, columnist at the Orlando Sentinel, came up with an unusual suggestion. Globe Field You will find the newest MLB stadium in Arlington, Texas. Support local journalism in these crazy days. The Rays have trained since 2009 in Port Charlotte, Florida, about 90 minutes south of St. Now, Williams is confident that Orlando can lure the Rays to a brand new ballpark ready for the first pitch of the 2028 season. Orlando passed St. Petersburg to become the states fourth-largest city five years ago. After nearly a decade as the Devil Rays, and countless phone calls pleading with the team to change the name, the teams new ownership, led by current owner Stuart Sternberg, decided that it was best to change the name to the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa Bay retiree one of thousands stuck in federal . It would work out, believe me it will. Baseball can be a thriving business in a fast-growing region heavy with deep-pocket corporate sponsors like Disney and Universal, he says. Are there any new MLB stadiums being built? Pitchers and catchers will report the following week on Feb. 14. Subscribeto our newsletter and follow@cl_tampabayon Twitter. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. What the Rays truly need is a third option . The four-day Grand Prix of St. Petersburg starts today, The 2023 Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is this weekend in downtown Tampa, Tampa Bay beaches ranked among Tripadvisor's 'Best Beaches' of 2023, Jane Goodalls Tampa Theatre talk sold out quickly, but select students can earn free tickets to get in, Tampa Zine Fest returns to Seminole Heights this weekend, St. Pete's 'Lift Every Voice' new play festival runs through Sunday at the James, Two Dykes and a Mic podcast tapes live in St. Pete on Friday, Photo By Casey Brooke Lawson/Tampa Bay Vipers, Scroll to read more Sports & Recreation articles. Tampa Bay Rays Looking At Possible Move To Nashville. For an international Disney visitor, the idea of attending a sport that epitomizes America such as baseball can be appealing. 2023 Cox Media Group. The column cites poor attendance compared to the other XFL teams for the games played at Raymond James Stadium, explains how the XFL could capitalize on the markets created by the recently deceased Alliance of American Football (AAF), and gets into how the recent hype surrounding the Bucs could make the Vipers an afterthought to football fans in Tampa. Walt Disney World Resort said its looking forward to providing professional-grade facilities and world-famous hospitality to the players and coaches. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. on As of April 1, 2020, the Orlando metro area ranked third in Florida demographically. FILE - A sign marking the entrance to ESPN's Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is seen in this Wednesday, June 3, 2020, file photo. There are plenty of good local restaurants 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. Subscribe now to not miss a thing. In addition, WGES/680 in St. Petersburg . That being said, lets get to it! health Breaking news The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. Period. 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. Despite increased interest expressed by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor in providing a . The ongoing saga of where the Tampa Bay Rays will be play baseball . A bid to move to Dallas was dismissed by the other AL owners in 1962. 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 . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to release veteran tight end Cameron Brate, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.This move comes as no surprise, considering the Bucs' salary cap situation, as well as their recent youth movement at the position.An undrafted free agent out of Harvard, Brate won a roster I cant talk about what went on in the executive council meeting.. The Rays began play in 1998 and were known as the Devil Rays until the end of the 2007 season. The column proposed that the Vipers move to was Orlando, which had the Orlando Apollos in the AAF, coached by former-Buc Steve Spurrier. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Read: Terry Hall, lead singer of ska band The Specials, dies at 63. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Ill be supportive of anything that Stu wants to do., Reinsdorf and Red Sox principal owner John Henry, another council member, declined Wednesday to share details on the Montreal decision. Why? Published Feb. 9, 2022. Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 12:56 pm, Video shows Florida alligator easily blasting through a metal fence, Central Florida Fair is back in Orlando for a 111th year. technology Not to mention that the, Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, , at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. Since 2009, WDAE/620 in St. Petersburg, Florida, has served as the flagship station for the network.. Bourse Also, rumblings on Orlandos pitch to relocate #Raysa new flipping reliever, FanFest plans, TSA stadium report, a Pasco spring?, Gerald Williams, helping youth leagues, a prediction for 88 wins, morehttps://t.co/FqD1FSHRFU, Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 13, 2022. Well send you a handful of interesting Orlando stories every morning. The Masters is keeping its criteria the same for next year. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman chuckled when he heard Williams characterization of his city. Whether it takes days or weeks at this point, were fine with it, he said. Read on to see where the candidates stand on smart growth, workforce issues and their willingness . A. . Corona Sports Floridas welcome centers arent so welcoming without free juice. If soccer can get people going, then so can baseball. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. Florida is truly a football state, both professional and amateur. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. The land hasnt been assembled and neither the city nor county have made any commitments to a team. I think the reason for most attendance for a local team will be for the transplants who don't get to see their old home town teams much - it will be the Bronx south on Yankee series, little . By QUIZ: Which Member of the 2021 Washington Nationals Are You? It might be best that the Rays relocate. Tampa has a lot of debt, and the city is still recovering from the financial crisis of the late 90's. The Rays might find it harder to sell tickets to fans in a city that is in economic trouble. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will provide our players and coaches with first-class facilities for their annual ramp up to the season.. Jan. 20, 2022 - Montreal sister city stadium is a no-go. It will likely take about 2 hours to get to St.Pete due to the construction through Tampa. Its been great to meet with them, Sternberg said. Danny - Nationals Lead Writer: @Nats_Baseball, Matt - Nationals Lead Writer: @HolleranMDH, 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast . 10 Best Breakfast Restaurants In Orlando, FL, 10 Best Seafood Restaurants In Miami Beach, Florida. The . 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 official subreddit about the City of Orlando and the surrounding communities of Central Florida. The only sport of Big 4 in this city of the State of Florida is basketball, in connection with the Magic of Orlando. UAE Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. Read: Tips to keep your furry friends safe from the cold this winter. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. 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. This was the only city that was going to be number 1. While she . Its an incomplete picture of the work that theyve been doing, and were eager to see that full pitch once its ready, team president Matt Silverman said. Re: Orlando To Tampa Bay Rays. Keep in mind I mostly avoided cities that were too far away from St. Petersburg, because many of those scenarios are far-fetched, and it seems like the Athletics are moving to Vegas anyway, with other Western cities like Portland and Vancouver being expansion options. 2 References. You know youd rather not sit in i4 traffic. Orlando is currently the 18th largest TV market, several notches down from Tampa Bays 11th ranking, but its just a matter of time before Orlando passes Tampa Bay, Williams said. Every little bit helps. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. Orlando is a smaller city than Tampa, but it gains much more tourist revenue. Ukraine Your favorite tequila battle is back on 4/7/23! Rays expect to move Yandy Diaz to first base for 2023. . Orlando has expressed interest in stealing the Rays from Tampa Bay, so losing the Vipers to the Mouses city would be a bad sign. Floridians dont care about baseball as much hence Florida Marlins. Columnist John Romano will send the latest Rays insights and analysis to keep you updated weekly during the season. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. According to several executives, there was no singular issue, but a series from different league facets. ORLANDO Rays officials still haven't gotten any clarity from other major-league owners or top executives during their quarterly meetings about why the plan to split . 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. . 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. "This building was not designed for spring training baseball. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. We know theyve been working hard on the effort, and were excited to see what they put together. Retired Orlando Magic executive Pat Williams says Orlando is the natural future home for the Tampa Bay Rays. Orlando does have some clear advantages. Newest Tampa Bay Rays Stadium Rumored Location: Florida State Fairgrounds. One of the most recent development in the future of the Tampa Bay Rays involves the city of Orlando. A new . Pinellas eyes youth sports complex with big question: Where would it fit? Tampa Bay Rays dump Astros to move one . After a four-year absence, Major League Baseball's spring training is returning to Walt Disney World Resort. Hes going to do what hes going to do to pursue a team. Why is Tampa Bay no longer the Devil Rays? The team's owner met with Tampa 's mayor to discuss the possible change in address. MLB has tried to encourage o. Some things: The leader of the push for the Dreamer is Pat Williams - the same guy who brought the Magic to town. 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. All rights reserved). A retired Orlando Magic executive thinks its a perfect fit for Stu Sternberg to move his team east on Interstate 4. Either way, well get to see the Vipers go 2-10 and disappoint us all over again. If people can afford a family trip to Disney, they can spend a few extra bucks to see Mike Trout perform. Although he hasnt spoken to the Rays owner, Williams said he doesnt believe Sternberg wants to sell the team and thinks he would retain ownership if the franchise moved to Orlando. Four weeks before the Rays' season opener against Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Minnesota took batting practice as rock music played in preparation for a spring training game Thursday inside the Rays' home ballpark. A move east likely wouldnt nullify a reportedly lucrative new television contract that the Rays just inked, since the Rays currently broadcast statewide. United States politics The Devil Rays swept the Rangers in that series. Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. economy We feel that the Rays need not look to Montreal, need not look to a split season 41 here and 41 somewhere else, Williams told the Times this week. There isnt really an issue with this proposal. Orlando, Williams says, is the logical full-time home for the Rays. Not to mention a name change the Rays would have to do, to something like the Stars or Outlaws. Clayton Kershaw beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second time in six days and the LA Dodgers held on for a 4-2 win Sunday night and a 3-2 World Series lead . ORLANDO Rays officials still havent gotten any clarity from other major-league owners or top executives during their quarterly meetings about why the plan to split future seasons in Montreal was killed. A year later, the Rays swept a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, improving their record to 6-0 all-time at Walt Disney World Resort. There are not only the tourists, but also all the Disney employees who could potentially go and have fun at a Rays game on their day off. With CBA negotiations becoming even more tense, it now looks like the MLB season will not start on time, with Spring Training at the bare minimum being pushed back. He noted that Major League Baseball is planning to expand by two teams in the coming years. How Much Is Breast Augmentation In Tampa. The Tampa Bay Rays would double-down on their Orlando push, as they scheduled a second series in Orlando in 2008. The team, which has lived with an uncertain stadium future for years, released details and renderings of a proposed new home east of their current stadium, Tropicana Field. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. The Tampa Bay Rays have submitted a proposal to build a new domed ballpark near the site of the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises current Tropicana Field home in St Petersburg, Florida. COVID-19 Alas, it was voted down (again) early this year. White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, one of the eight owners on the executive council, said he remains convinced the Rays can be successful in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. I need as much of it as I can right now lol. So it's really not driving the conversation, but it's certainly an important element.". But stuff happens.. Tampa Bay isnt a unified market like Minneapolis-St. Paul, he said, adding a more apt comparison might be Oakland and San Francisco. And we have both Mayor Castor and her administration, and new Mayor Welch and his administration and the county people, who have been nothing but supportive and eager to engage with us.. 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. Orlando west to East can be 1 hour apart - finding land to build a stadium complex that is convenient for a bulk of the population will be a challenge. League officials gave no reasons at the time, which surprised the Rays as they had been given permission in June 2019 to explore the plan and expected the go-ahead to try to make it work. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. The Orlando Rays were Tampa Bay's first minor league affiliate at the Double-A level. Carter Brantley , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. The Tampa Bay Rays are less than two months away from Opening Day. The removal of these seating options give a better optical illusion for TV, but it's weird at a game. The company said the cuts are due in large part to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its business and the tremendous disruption in how fans consume sports. Theyve tried everything they can for the last 20 years to make it work. The Rays previous plans for a new stadium have been shot down as the city and team could not agree on funding and which side should pay how much. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Orlando is a fantastic in-state option for the Rays, and it doesn't have the cumbersome cost of starting the fanbase over or getting out of a valuable TV deal across the state of Florida. April 7, 2022 by archyde. 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. Save. They would have a fan base and really wouldnt effect the St.Louis Cardinals. . The stadium was built using taxpayer dollars and now they think they are going to get people who are too lazy to drive from Tampa or St Pete by building a new stadium at taxpayer expense. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. The location in St Pete makes attendance for the Rays suffer because the distance from Tampa and northern suburbs is a challenge on 275 most weekdays. We want to be in the area, which is the most important thing. Walt Disney World cast members and Marine representatives helped spread some extra holiday magic to hundreds of families over the weekend. With a plan to play part of the season in Montreal scrapped, the Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly shifting from a plan for a modest Ybor City facility to a larger, domed ballpark that will serve as year-round home for the MLB team. Political news Aside from a brief flash of greatness from 2006 through 2013, the Tampa Bay Rays have been a sad baseball team playing in the dumpy ballpark in the middle of nowhere. Following Silverman's announcement Sunday, Rays fans chanted, " Move to Tampa ," according to 95.3 WDAE. But in the six weeks since unveiling the drive to get a team at an Orlando sports pub, Williams says, 11,302 people as of Monday have signed up to be potential season ticket holders. The Tampa Bay Rays have a vision for a new home in St. Petersburg. 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 think Stu should do what I think hes trying to do, (which) is get a stadium built in the Tampa area, Reinsdorf said. Why Rays Drew Rasmussen will slow down this spring, Rays Tyler Glasnow sustains oblique injury during practice, Bucs expected to release veteran tight end Cameron Brate, In Daniel Robertsons return to Rays, a clear mind is what matters, No details or plans to lure Rays, just Dreamers right now in Orlando, Orlando overtakes St. Petersburg as fourth most populated city, No O.J. By Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. Williams also said the Tampa Bay area is too fragmented by geography and politics to make up for St. Petersburgs weaknesses. 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. As a diehard Miami marlins fan. Its also a decent distance from Florida. You cant possibly think Im going to answer that question, Reinsdorf said. The parents of Orlando shooting victims, 9-year-old T'yonna Major and 24-year-old Dylan Lyons, are speaking out against gun violence. Because Charlotte is another example of a city that would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than an exported Rays franchise that would probably have to change its name to something more relevant. Option to move Rays to Orlando must be raised. Your email address will not be published. Ron DeSantis vetoed $35 million in government spending for a new practice facility for the Tampa Bay Rays after the baseball team posted a tweet in support of gun control, according to This would obviously make the whole idea of moving the Vipers to Orlando pointless for 2021, but the concept could be explored if the XFL enjoys enough success to have a 2022 season. A playoff game. Fri, Sep 4, 2020 at 5:28 pm. Rays co-presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld have met with Williams several times" since Rays owner Stu Sternberg announced his split-season concept between Tampa Bay and Montreal. I'm fine with it. At that time, he was vague about whether the team would pursue an expansion franchise or an existing team. Rays were fearless on the bases in 2022. Much like the last two cities on this list, Nashville would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than sorting through recruiting the Rays. Orlando. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. Video St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. Photos: Rays back at Trop in spring game against Twins, Top prospect Taj Bradley, Rays take on Red Sox today, Rays Tyler Glasnow sustains oblique injury during practice, In Daniel Robertsons return to Rays, a clear mind is what matters. Required fields are marked *. Sports media giant ESPN announced Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, that it is cutting about 500 jobs from its global workforce and laying off about 300 employees. Free Will Astrology: Is the soul shaped like an iceberg or a hummingbirds eye? While this proposal has some ground, its one that needs to become more concrete, and works better for an expansion franchise. The Rays are moving their spring training operation to the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex on Walt Disney World property in Orlando after their own facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by . Few people remember that in 1992, the San Francisco Giants were an eyelash away from moving to Tampa before other team owners stepped in and one Bay Area team stayed where it was. The move to Central Florida comes after the teams facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September. WHERE THE RAYS STAY: Most visiting teams stay at the Renaissance Harborplace or the Marriott Inner Harbor. The Rays announced during a press conference on Friday that they officially intend to move the team from their current St. Petersburg location to Ybor City, a neighborhood in Tampa, and shed the . Answer (1 of 2): The Rays have a perfectly nice Stadium in St Pete. Its not a great tourist town. Why? Tampa wouldnt really be losing the Rays, Williams insisted. dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. The Milwaukee . But its been nice to be around the senior baseball community here from all the other teams, theyve all been very complimentary. Golden State won the title last season, and a healthy Curry, and the eventual return of Gary Payton II gives Golden State the most depth it has had all season. One downside I see to this idea is that the state of Florida is really a football state and less of other sports.