This was the only city that was going to be number 1. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. Officials: Tampa Bay Rays considering Pasco County training facility - KPNX The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. 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. Other Franchises: San Antonio Spurs (four championships), San Antonio Silver Stars. 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. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1. How are Rays' hopes for a new stadium impacted by A's-Las Vegas deal? Charlotte Sports Park has been Tampa Bays Spring Training home since 2009. 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. Tampa Bays home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, Feb. 26, has been removed from the schedule. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. Where . Team officials said there was not enough time to get the park in suitable condition to host games. Charlotte, N.C. 2 of 5 The Rays started the season with 13 consecutive wins, tying the 1982 Atlanta Braves and the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers for the modern era (post-1900) record, and the most . 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. And any time a team threatens or considers folding, Portland is in the cards. One of the drawbacks, however, would be the very low population. There is an obvious solution as to where . The Rays faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. Move the Tampa Rays to Memphis. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. 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). 1? 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. 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. So getting people to go to games wouldn't be a problem (and heck, out of 1.3 million people, someone has to like baseball there, right?). Rays to move 2023 Spring Training from Port Charlotte - MLB Is it likely? 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. There isnt really an issue with this proposal. The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1. 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 Hurricane Ian. There werent as many teams near the teams former spring training home Lake Buena Vista. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. The previously released exhibition schedule is expected to be revised. It would work out, believe me it will. 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. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. Tampa Bay Rays moving spring training site due to hurricane damage Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet. The Rays would have to build a new ballpark, but there is no reason not to believe it would not be revered by baseball fans in the area. Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda on Sept. 28. Oakland A's are relocating; Tampa Bay Rays are on deck | Commentary Click below to sign in. 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. 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. 4.26.2023. Your email address will not be published. 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. That being said, lets get to it! Legacy: The Portland Beavers have been a AAA affiliate (or minor league affiliate in some capacity) since the beginning of the 20th century. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training. NFL Owner Rips Baseball Team for Plans to Move to Las Vegas Its also a decent distance from Florida. Oh, and they have been doing all this while remaining in the bottom third of the MLB's payroll rankings. The team is considering several options and hopes to make a decision in the next few weeks. 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. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. 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. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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. According to the Tampa Bay Times, "As the Montreal plan took shape, Rays officials said it was their 'only' option and dismissed any chance of getting a new full-time home in the Tampa Bay . 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. 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. 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. 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. Rays' Franco Wanders into Left Field to Make Stunning Barehanded Catch There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. That's an extra 25,000 and a total attendance of 43,000-plus. There has been discussion from some investors. Will Charlotte get MLB team? Tampa residents Dennis Gallagher and his daughter Kate wait for the start of the Tampa Bay Rays final home spring training game last season. 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. While the Whalers were a popular franchise in Hartford, Hartford is just plain inexperienced at handling major league sports. 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). Rays moving spring camp due to damage caused by hurricane Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. So is it possible? If Nashville wants Major League Baseball, it should look at Tampa The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. The city's population ranking has shot up from 63rd to 28th since 1990, which is also another great reason to establish a professional sports team in Las Vegas. Tampa Bay Rays Looking At Possible Move To Nashville There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. MLB is a significant step closer to expansion, which will bring two more franchises into the big leagues while also necessitating the creation of eight new minor-league teams around the country. Danny - Nationals Lead Writer: @Nats_Baseball, Matt - Nationals Lead Writer: @HolleranMDH, 2021 Half Street High Heat A Nationals Podcast . 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. How is MLB expansion impacted by the Oakland A's likely move to Las Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. 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. "I am a child of the Gas Plant," Welch said. The Rays' current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp," a spokesperson wrote in an email to 10 Tampa Bay. 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." Much like the last two cities on this list, Nashville would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than sorting through recruiting the Rays. Firstly, one has to know that Nashville has an entire website dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. Population: 567,641 (28th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: None. 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. But, lets say the Rays come to town. 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,. Population: 454,731 (40th among U.S. cities). Doherty noted that while the Stone Crabs offered some family friendly fun, the county was successful in attractingyouth tournaments to recoup some tourism dollars. Rays to move spring training from storm-damaged Port Charlotte facility The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training. 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. Welch said the plan should keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the long term. The team's lease with their Spring training facility in Port Charlotte runs through 2028. ", Plan outlined for new Rays park, redevelopment, Harper may return Tue., 160 days post-TJ surgery, Rangers ace deGrom 'frustrated' to land on IL, Twins will shut P Mahle down for at least 4 weeks, Cards broadcaster, 2-time champ Shannon dies, Giants' Yastrzemski (hamstring) likely IL-bound, Yankees to evaluate Judge's hip strain Monday, Mexico City's uphill climb toward landing an MLB franchise. Tampa Bay Rays Could Move To Pasco County - Q105 "It will no longer be a dream denied. "One to watch" - Chelsea, Man Utd & Newcastle - Yardbarker 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. "We are solely focused on the Sister City plan and keeping the Rays in Tampa Bay for generations," said Rays' president Brian Auld. 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. Legacy: Hartford is perhaps more known for its former franchise, aka The Whalers, then anything else. 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. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. Charlotte Sports Park - Wikipedia SBJ I Factor presented by Allied Sports features an interview with Navigate founder A.J. The move to Central Florida comes after the team's facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September. 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. MLB-best Tampa Bay strengthens bullpen with Brewers trade The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field as members of Major League Baseball's American League East Division.. The Nationals Stink, BAD. Your email address will not be published. Other Franchises: Portland Trailblazers (one championship), Portland Timbers. and our "We think Tampa is a major league market and we want to find a solution that makes the club economically viable in that market," Manfred said then. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. 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. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. Charlotte seems like it could be a great fit for a professional baseball team. 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). Nashville's pursuit of an MLB franchise might be gaining steam, if a Tampa City Council member is to be believed. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? 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. "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 . The decision affects both the major league and minor league camps. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. We are aware of the media reports about potential relocation discussions, but were told by the Rays management they have no immediate plans to move their spring training location, he continued. Rays Moving Spring Camp Due to Damage Caused by Hurricane - US News How awesome would a brand new baseball stadium look near the Las Vegas strip?