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. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. Rays to move 2023 spring training after Charlotte Sports Park damage 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. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. Population: 454,731 (40th among U.S. cities). This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. Legacy: Charlotte has never been much of a baseball town. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. The facilities in Port Charlotte sustained heavy damage caused by Hurricane Ian, so officials from the team and county agreed to relocate the Rays Spring Training base while they clean up and repair the complex with plans to return in 2024. 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.. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. 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. and I recently flew into Tampa for a three game series and getting to Tropicana Field from Tampa itself was a pain in the butt. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. 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. There have also been professional leagues but, if substantial, it was back in the 19th century. Ian made landfall just south of Punta Gorda on Sept. 28. San Antonio, despite immense basketball success, is considered small market. As a matter of fact, there were some in, Charlotte that did not want to give the Knights a new stadium. The city of Omaha has also risen in the population rankings from 47th to 40th since 1990, which indicates a growing interest in the area and perhaps a growing fanbase if the trend continues. One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. Why? https://twitter.com/PDriscollTBT/status/1398317459220881408?s=20 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. 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. The decision affects both the major league and minor league camps. 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." Well have to play the wait-and-see game to see where that goes and we know their agreement here goes through 2028, so we hope to at least have them through then, but wed love to renew that agreement.. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. Ticket information for the Rays Spring Training games will be released in January. The city of Indianapolis already has a winning team in the Colts, but there is no reason the Rays cannot succeed in Indy as well. 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. , and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. Well, until the strike hit anyway). However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. 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. 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. 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. There is an obvious solution as to where . A history in Charlotte County. Tampa Bay Rays Careers and Employment - Indeed The Rays' easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. The Spurs have been world class forwellever it seems. The Rays have arguably the best bullpen in the big leagues. 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. It did help with putting us a little more on the map with travelers and tourists, he added. The Rays and Braves played the first game ever at CoolToday Park, to close out the 2019 spring training schedule. So it came as some surprise that the attendance for a 'home' franchise is so low (with, at least, fans originating from Tampa without ties to other franchises). Tampa This was the only city that was going to be number 1. 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. There werent as many teams near the teams former spring training home Lake Buena Vista. There isnt really an issue with this proposal. K.C. Rays' early-season success leads to attendance bump. "At the moment there's not something concrete with any of these clubs, but I'm told he's open to make a top club move in the summer so it's one to watch for sure. 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. There has been discussion from some investors. It might be easier to root for the Red Sox or Yankees if you live in Connecticut, but I just have a gut feeling a Hartford team would be a resounding success. The Rays also have history at The Stadium, formerly known as Champion Stadium. "Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training," the statement . But, lets say the Rays come to town. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazines awards, such as Forty Under 40, Game Changers and others. Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training: Southern Exposure. Uncover why Tampa Bay Rays is the best company for you. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The Charlotte Sports Park facility, which has been the the Rays spring home since 2009, sustained extensive damage in the late-September storm, including to the game stadium and other buildings. I need not remind everyone theres no team between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. The Rays declined through an email from a team spokesman to comment further. MLB Realignment: 7 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Could Relocate to If out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. Is it likely? 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. Locally, the Pittsburgh Pirates host spring training at LECOM Park at 1611 9th Street W., Bradenton, but the minor leaguers train a few miles east at Pirate City. Legacy: Montreal once had the Expos. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/G. The Rays have not yet finalized their plans for Spring Training, but they are considering a variety of options. Co-founder and retired executive of the Orlando Magic Pat Williams has made a direct appeal to Rays management about a move to the city of Orlando. Tampa Bay Rays will use Disney, Tropicana Field as temporary spring . Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. In 2018, he listed Nashville, along with Las Vegas, Charlotte, Montreal, Portland and Vancouver as potential . Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. Other Franchises: Montreal Canadiens (24 championships). Charlotte Sports Park - Wikipedia 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. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. The move to Central Florida comes after the team's facilities in Port Charlotte were damaged by Hurricane Ian back in September. History. Obviously the Rays would need a new ballpark built, but the remaining fanbase in Tampa Bay is already calling for a new stadium, so this is somewhat of a moot point. We are thankful for Disneys willingness and ability to accommodate our unexpected Spring Training needs, Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. If Nashville wants Major League Baseball, it should look at Tampa Population:709,441 (18th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Teams in the City: Carolina Panthers. The multifield complex will give the Rays the space they need for their Spring Training workouts. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. 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,. Award-winning original reporting, with in-depth profiles, timely research and expert opinions on the biggest issues and stories in sports business. 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. 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. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. Period. Find out what works well at Tampa Bay Rays from the people who know best. 49 print issues delivered to your home or office. Team Puerto Ricos scheduled exhibition game against the Rays on Thursday, March 9 will now be hosted by the Atlanta Braves at North Port. The Rays followed up their Cinderella season by winning 84 games in 2009 and finishing third in the AL East, which was nothing short of remarkable considering they lost 101 games in 2006. , 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. That said, on this list, I find this destination the least likely. On a personal note, I am a Rays fan living outside of Florida (though born and raised in Tampa, represent!) Rays' Franco Wanders into Left Field to Make Stunning Barehanded Catch 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.

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