Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. Every little bit helps. Option to move Rays to Orlando must be raised. According to the Southern League's website, the move to Walt Disney . The Rays have trained since 2009 in Port Charlotte, Florida, about 90 minutes south of St. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. America Rays face Braves with Shane McClanahan on the mound today, Bucs expected to release veteran tight end Cameron Brate, Why Rays Drew Rasmussen will slow down this spring. While she . 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. Orlando. Its also a decent distance from Florida. The Atlanta Braves called the sports complex their spring training home from 1998 to 2019 before moving to CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. At that time, he was vague about whether the team would pursue an expansion franchise or an existing team. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Vice president of Disney Sports, Faron Kelley, said they are thrilled to bring Major League Baseball back to Walt Disney World Resort. No more wholesale sports welfare. International 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. Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. for you! March 3rd, 2023, at 2:41 pm. 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. 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. (Tampa is third.) Rather than react to a news report, were excited to sit down with the city and the county and the TSA. Not to mention that the, Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, , at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. Seen as MLB's favorite city without a team, Nashville's prospects of picking up a franchise, specifically the Tampa Bay Rays, continues to see development with news and mutual interest . Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. 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. . posed a simple question: When the XFL returns, should the Tampa Bay Vipers stay in Tampa? 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. Either way, well get to see the Vipers go 2-10 and disappoint us all over again. On Tuesday, Disney announced the Tampa Bay Rays will conduct part of the teams 2023 spring training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Learn how your comment data is processed. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. The . It's fair to wonder about the possibility of the Tampa Bay Rays moving to Orlando. Its not a great tourist town. Then the political people rise up and we will hear from them, he said. The Rays were left looking for training facilities after their regular spring training home Charlotte Sports Park was damaged by Hurricane Ian. 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 April 7, 2022 by archyde. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Lets give Tennessee its own team instead. 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. 1 min read. Florida is truly a football state, both professional and amateur. Orlando has expressed interest in stealing the Rays from Tampa Bay, so losing the Vipers to the Mouses city would be a bad sign. 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. 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. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. The Rays are splitting spring training between the ESPN Wide . Your email address will not be published. Home News Option to move Rays to Orlando must be raised. Now I won't have to drive as far to see the Yankees. Rays President Matt Silverman said the team was looking forward to playing at Disney. Having talked to people who have worked for Disney before, there isnt much to do around and having the Rays come would be an added attraction. Published Feb. 9, 2022. On Tuesday, Disney announced the Tampa Bay Rays will conduct part of the team's 2023 spring training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Video Orlando has expressed interest in stealing the Rays from Tampa Bay, so losing the Vipers to the Mouse's city would be a bad sign. Africa one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. But, lets say the Rays come to town. Where do visiting teams stay when playing the Rays? St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Florida > Orlando: Tampa Bay Rays move to 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. Ditto for those of hockey, besides since the Lightning dominates the league. Were going to try our best, he said. 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. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. In the years before the advent of the Rays, the Tampa-St. Petersburg area was often suggested as a relocation site for many struggling major league baseball teams. But why isnt it the first option? Cities like Vegas and Memphis relocation cities. Baseball clubs have never drawn crowds. Following Silverman's announcement Sunday, Rays fans chanted, " Move to Tampa ," according to 95.3 WDAE. | Powered By: Web Seo Wiz. 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. Major League Baseball has refused to give ownership permission to explore their dual city plan, with the team playing half the season in the Tampa Bay area and the other half in Montreal. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. Sorry but you do not sound like a big baseball fan. 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. It will likely take about 2 hours to get to St.Pete due to the construction through Tampa. 2. Keep up with the latest storylines, expert analysis, highlights, scores and more. Hes going to do what hes going to do to pursue a team. If we talk about Big 5 and MLS, we must add to this equation Orlando City which joined MLS only in 2015. As a diehard Miami marlins fan. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are part of Disney World. Tampa Bay Rays dump Astros to move one . Whether or not the idea of moving a baseball club there is worth discussing remains to be seen. Matthew Moyer Retired Orlando Magic executive Pat Williams says Orlando is the natural future home for the Tampa Bay Rays. The series selected was the May 15-17 series versus the Texas Rangers. on 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. If the Rays were to leave the Tampa-St.Pete area, this should be the first place they should consider going. 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. Globe Life Field is home to the Texas Rangers and opened in the year 2020. it has a retro modern Construction complete with a retractable roof and artificial turf. Answer (1 of 2): The Rays have a perfectly nice Stadium in St Pete. It is what it is, Williams said. "I made a big mistake, a real mistake, in trying to promote our sister-city plan with a . Orlando Weekly Daily newsletter. Walt Disney World Resort said its looking forward to providing professional-grade facilities and world-famous hospitality to the players and coaches. A summary report from the Tampa Sports Authority provided some details of a plan for a potential Ybor City stadium, but the Rays need to hear and see more, which at some point will include the cost breakdown. News Agency Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. The Tampa Bay Times reported at the time that those included: Some owners only wanting the Rays to use the plan as leverage for negotiations for a new full-time stadium in the Tampa Bay market; hesitancy over the complexity of the plan on such topics as TV markets and territorial rights; concern that the Rays could benefit greatly financially if it worked, as well as the potential for it to fail and create issues in two markets with long-term leases; and questions over how a deal would be worked out with the players. Tampa Bay is entering 2023 with high expectations after making it to the playoffs for the last four seasons. 10 Best Breakfast Restaurants In Orlando, FL, 10 Best Seafood Restaurants In Miami Beach, Florida. Top prospect Taj Bradley, Rays take on Red Sox today. Orlando, Williams says, is the logical full-time home for the Rays. Commentators and fans wondered how a franchise in Orlando was a viable option. So it's really not driving the conversation, but it's certainly an important element.". If people can afford a family trip to Disney, they can spend a few extra bucks to see Mike Trout perform. Ukraine 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. 1:50. 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. A recent column on the XFL Newsroom posed a simple question: When the XFL returns, should the Tampa Bay Vipers stay in Tampa? entertainment Tuesday's meeting was the first for Mayor Jane Castor and Rays owner Stu Sternberg to talk face-to-face about the team building a stadium in Ybor City . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Fortunately, its not our first rodeo. And there are those big potential corporate sponsors. I think MLB view cities like Montreal, Portland, Nashville, Charlotte and possibly Mexico City as possible expansion cities. Jan. 20, 2022 - Montreal sister city stadium is a no-go. The bureau reported 12% of people moving to Tampa came from Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Lakeland, Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral, Ocala, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay, all cities in Florida. health Before playing at Champions Stadium, the Orlando Rays played at Tinker Field, where in the year 2000 brought in 61,960 people. Either way, we'll get to see the Vipers go 2-10 and disappoint . trot create an agency to facilitate the process for Argentines, Charger specialist Anker launches a very promising 3D printer on Kickstarter. To hide the sight of empty seats, the Tampa Bay Rays removed the upper deck seats during games. And hes made that pitch to team executives in recent months. ESPN Wide World of Sports was the Atlanta Braves spring training home for two decades and was a host site for the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic, which features major-league players. Some things: The leader of the push for the Dreamer is Pat Williams - the same guy who brought the Magic to town. It is even to believe that the upper echelons of the MLB do not know it either with the few information that it is possible to obtain here and there! politics , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia. And he's made that pitch to team . 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. A move to either Seattle or Milwaukee was also discussed. Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday. PETERSBURG, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays are relocating their spring base for 2023 due to extensive damage to team training facilities caused by Hurricane Ian. I'm fine with it. By all appearances, the Tampa Bay Rays are staying put. Russia Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. That might be surprising considering that Tampa Bay drafted two tight ends last year with Cade Otton and Ko Kieft, but . It arrives at the foot of the podium with a population of 2,673,376 inhabitants, arriving far behind the greater Miami area and not far behind that of, precisely, Tampa Bay. Hes confident that his booming metro area will outpace Tampa Bay in population and clout within a dozen years. The Rays have trained since 2009 in Port Charlotte, Florida, about 90 minutes south of St. 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. The Tampa Bay Rays may not be able to afford staying in Florida much longer. Williams also said the Tampa Bay area is too fragmented by geography and politics to make up for St. Petersburgs weaknesses. Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14) fends off Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (73) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Pittsburgh. 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. Tampa Bay Rays setting stage for move to Montreal for 2028 By soon, that essentially means by the beginning of 2023. It is even to believe that the upper echelons of the MLB do not know it either with the few information that it is possible to obtain here and there! What the Rays truly need is a third option . Relocate to Montreal or Nashville where they can draw fans, same can said for the Marlins, I'm a big baseball fan, but let's be honest here - it's not a great spectator sport most of the time. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. WHERE THE RAYS STAY: Most visiting teams stay at the Renaissance Harborplace or the Marriott Inner Harbor. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. The average young adult who moved to Tampa moved from an area about 267 miles away for their job, the Census Bureau reported. Thats up to Stu, Reinsdorf said. The cheapest way to get from Orlando to Tampa Bay costs only $26, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. Stu Sternberg, the team's principal owner, said the decision was not prompting him to sell or move the team, but he did not rule out moving after the Rays' lease at Tropicana Field runs . The Masters is keeping its criteria the same for next year. 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. The team's owner met with Tampa 's mayor to discuss the possible change in address. Its been great to meet with them, Sternberg said. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. (Lord knows it seems more realistic than Rays owner Stuart Sternberg's insulting two-city . 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. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman chuckled when he heard Williams characterization of his city. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. Tropicana Field in St Petersburg is an eyesore and frankly an embarrassment. Baseball would be the most boring attraction of them all in Orlando. There are corporate interests, fans to pounce on, and an area that wants baseball. 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. Again, thank you for the constructive criticism. PETERSBURG, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays are relocating their spring base for 2023 due to extensive damage to team training facilities caused by Hurricane Ian.