"It will no longer be a dream denied. 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?). The mayor's grandfather ran a woodyard business there before the neighborhood was essentially obliterated by Tropicana Field. 'Believe in the power of cheese': How a group of rookies helped give the Brewers the best vibes in baseball, Fantasy baseball: Load up on San Diego bats this weekend. 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. I'd say yes. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? Lets be real. 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. The Rays dropped to 14-1 . The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. "Folks want to be here. Manager Joe Maddon helped guide the youthful Rays to their first playoff appearance in 2008, and they proceeded to upset the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, but they were eventually defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Not to mention that the, Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, , at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. The Raleigh-based Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) have also begun to sputter. 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. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. They have a lease that runs through 2031 after recent extensions, according to the Port Charlotte Sun. Two proposals shepherded by the previous mayor were scrapped last year by Welch, who sought to focus more on affordable housing and job opportunities at the Gas Plant District. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense, 7. 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. (AP image). The Rays faced the Atlanta Braves and drew 1,127 fans, the maximum attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. The Rays have trained in Port Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, since 2009. How awesome would a brand new baseball stadium look near the Las Vegas strip? Other Franchises: Montreal Canadiens (24 championships). Find out what works well at Tampa Bay Rays from the people who know best. MLB Realignment: 7 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Could Relocate to If 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. With Charlotte Sports Park damaged due to Hurricane Ian, the team plans on opening spring at Disneys ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. How are Rays' hopes for a new stadium impacted by A's-Las Vegas deal? Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. St. Petersburg is a hike from Tampa, and most of the ways to get between the two cities are clogged during weekday rush hour. 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. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. 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 with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. The market, fan interest, history, community, and financial backing all exist, making this a great option if theyre willing to have a relocated franchise. This was the only city that was going to be number 1. The Rays have played at the domed Tropicana Field since their inaugural 1998 season but have considered moving elsewhere, such as neighboring Tampa, amid consistently low attendance. However, as I just stated, this is geared towards getting a new team. There have also been professional leagues but, if substantial, it was back in the 19th century. Rays to move 2023 spring training after Charlotte Sports Park damage Maestas talks with SBJs Abe Madkour about the early days of Navigate, which he said he founded with too little knowledge, though good fortune as far as timing made up for my mistakes. Maestas traces his career path and personal development, and highlights the attributes and practices that he believes help make a successful business person and human being. Legacy: Hartford is perhaps more known for its former franchise, aka The Whalers, then anything else. The Rays current contract with Charlotte County runs through the 2028 spring training camp.. Rays to open upper deck for Yankees series in May, Rays lefty Josh Fleming finds his role as the bulk guy, Rays add bullpen depth in reacquiring Javy Guerra from Brewers, Rays send impressive rookie pitcher Taj Bradley back to minors, Heres why Tampa Bay Rays attendance during the teams historic winning streak matters | Editorial, White Sox pay tribute to Rays radio broadcaster Dave Wills, Why well know a lot more about the Rays in a month, CEO who turned Creative Pinellas into a thriving arts center is retiring, 2-year-old daughter of Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett drowns in family pool, Assembly line of Triple-A arms somehow has kept Rays atop the standings, Sign up for the Rays Report weekly newsletter, Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry, a two-time Cy Young winner, dies. Maestas, a member of Sports Business Journals Forty Under 40 class of 2015. December 2, 2022 in Grapefruit League Teams, Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays will likely not be able to use TD Ameritrade Park though because of the minor league teams in the city, plus it can only fit around 24,000 fans. Related to that, and with a potential move there by the Rays, you'd have instant rivalry potential with the Seattle Mariners. 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. Click below to sign in. Much like the last two cities on this list, Nashville would be better off receiving an expansion franchise than sorting through recruiting the Rays. 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. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. 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. Other Franchises: Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts (five total championships, two Super Bowl victories), Indiana Fever. 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. Same goes for the Colts. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/04/26/Franchises/tampa-bay-rays-standings-topicana-field-tickets.aspx. 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). One thing I can say is that Portland folks are extremely outgoing and very loyal. Rays to move 2023 Spring Training from Port Charlotte - MLB 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. 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. Move the Tampa Rays to Memphis. 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. out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. 1? If Nashville wants Major League Baseball, it should look at Tampa As a matter of fact, there were some in, Charlotte that did not want to give the Knights a new stadium. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Feb. 14, with early arrivals slated for Feb. 6. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks.. 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. 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. Privacy Policy. So would bringing a team back there make sense? 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. Rays' Franco Wanders into Left Field to Make Stunning Barehanded Catch Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. 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. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Already a subscriber? They have a temporary stadium that could possibly be upgraded. The Rays use the facility on a year-round basis for extended spring training, complex and instructional league play, and mini-camps. Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. Plus, the only teams the Rays would have to compete with for attendance would be the Nevada Wolfpack and the UNLV Rebels' college teamswell, and the Lingerie Football League (pictured above), but I do not think they will be able to cause the same attendance troubles the Rays have at the moment. 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. The Nationals Stink, BAD. The Rays and Charlotte County announced on Dec. 1 that the club would not be able to hold Spring Training at Charlotte Sports Park.
Denton Housing Authority Payment Standards 2022,
Central Arizona Project Staff,
Silverado Door Lock Punched Out,
Articles T
tampa bay rays moving to charlotte