Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. 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. Legacy: Charlotte has never been much of a baseball town. Yes. In 2021, as part of an overall reorganization of minor league baseball, the Rays moved theirClass A-advanced affiliate to South Carolina. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. The two closest teams to Charlotte (Braves & Nats) are both NL, so having a Carolina team be AL only makes sense 7. out of the belief they could bring an MLB team to the stadium instead. 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. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. If the team were moved to the city in which is takes it name from, would that attendance increase? However, if they were to bite the bullet and go to North Carolina, theres definitely reasons to believe they can succeed. | Powered By: Web Seo Wiz. Oh, and they have been doing all this while remaining in the bottom third of the MLB's payroll rankings. The stadium, where the Rays have conducted Spring Training since 2009, sustained water damage and electrical issues. One of the drawbacks, however, would be the very low population. 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. The Rays have trained in Port Charlotte, which is about 90 minutes south of St. Petersburg, since 2009. We are thankful for Disneys willingness and ability to accommodate our unexpected Spring Training needs, Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. Legacy: Hartford is perhaps more known for its former franchise, aka The Whalers, then anything else. Then they lost them. This scenario seems perfect for an in-state move. Other Franchises: Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts (five total championships, two Super Bowl victories), Indiana Fever. 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. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Leaders Group. Like Indy, I find the market perfect due to the population numbers and lack of in-city competition during the high-ratings portions of the leagues but see the fan expectations as an issue. Where . Relocation and contraction are words no fan wants to hear, especially if it involves their beloved team. The Rays could go to North Carolina, continue winning and give sports fans in the state a team they can root for in the postseason, aside from the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament. Other Franchises: Montreal Canadiens (24 championships). "It's not just for a ballgame but an entire experience.". Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. The Rays have trained since . Charlotte Sports Park has been Tampa Bay's Spring Training home since 2009. 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. The Rays are just seven games out of the lead in the AL East and five and a half games out of the Wild Card, but are ranked 13th in AL attendance. Related: Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory. The plan calls for a new domed stadium to be ready for the 2028 season opener; the Rays' current stadium lease is up in 2027. The Rays and Charlotte County announced the decision in a joint statement on Thursday night. 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. The Rays have been their prime candidate, considering their desire for a new stadium and less than spectacular attendance figures in Tampa Bay. Renderings indicate the old stadium would be demolished. The team is considering several options and hopes to make a decision in the next few weeks. After Tampa was awarded the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 1970s, St. Petersburg decided it wanted a share of the professional sports scene in Tampa Bay. "Folks want to be here. 1 spring training destination by the readers of USA Today and 10Best. Access to easy-to-read digital editions of weekly issues. They get corporate interest, the same attendance as the other two Tampa-based teams, more fan interest, and more money to work with. Montreal was viable once so, of course, it can be again and the Blue Jays, through thick and thin, have stuck around. 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 declined through an email from a team spokesman to comment further. 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). 5. Tampa Bay Rays moving spring training site due to hurricane damage. 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.. 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 . 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. Along with other list member Charlotte, Portland was a finalist for the Expos franchise but lost out to Washington. dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. Pacers fans are immensely loyal and, regardless of talent or win totals, it always seems the Pacers are blue collar and supported as such. Chief Business Officer Bill Walsh said that the team also made other ticket pricing adjustments around their ballpark to make sure that folks who maybe tuned in to the evening news and caught wind of what was happening here, that if they went to our website they could find some tickets, if not for $10, maybe within close proximity to that (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/24 issue). But it happens, even to the best of teams, the best of fans and even the most successful of franchises. If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. Additionally, I wouldnt want to try to compete with Texas Football during the fall, which is another reason to keep out of Austin. There is also an established baseball tradition in Omaha with the College World Series played there every year. Related to that, and with a potential move there by the Rays, you'd have instant rivalry potential with the Seattle Mariners. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune. 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. K.C. That being said, lets get to it! Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. Rays' early-season success leads to attendance bump. , 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. A's officials last week announced that they had signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres of land for a stadium . Not to mention that the, Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, , at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. The downsides of this proposal are apparent. Population: 676,640 (19th among U.S. cities), Other Professional Sports Teams in the City: Memphis Grizzlies. "Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training," the statement . Legacy: The Portland Beavers have been a AAA affiliate (or minor league affiliate in some capacity) since the beginning of the 20th century. They want to be next to a vibrant downtown," Welch said. 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. 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. 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. 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. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. 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. Legacy: Montreal once had the Expos. 1. https://twitter.com/PDriscollTBT/status/1398317459220881408?s=20 Its also a decent distance from Florida. 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. Charlotte County spokesman Brian Gleason said via email that Charlotte County has enjoyed partnering with the Tampa Bay Rays on their spring training camp and player development program since 2009. Rays have the second-lowest average attendance in the MLB, only second to their in state counterparts, Speaking of the Marlins, Florida will still have a team so it wont be like Florida is completely isolated from Baseball, The Marlins have a brand spanking new stadium, wheras the Rays are in need of a new home anyway with their stadium being 29 years old, 4. Proximity of the Rays in Port Charlotte as well as the Orioles and Pirates to the north and Red Sox and Twins to the south in Fort Myers was one of several factors when the Atlanta Braves decided to move theirspring training quarters to North Port. NHL Lightning & Panthers. Most recently, published reports, primarily in the Tampa Bay Times, have highlighted a portion of that effort that would have the Rays play their spring training games in a stadium that would be built as part of the development play for the 50-acre Gas Worx parcel between Ybor City and the Channelside area, with a spring training player development site to the north, in Pasco County. Charlotte is a fast growing city, and theres tons of potential in every way. The city has experimented with five different minor league baseball teams since 1903 with limited success. The Rays are considering several options for a new spring base, including Tropicana Field and the Disney complex formerly used by the Braves, and hope to have a resolution in the next few weeks. 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. So is it possible? All rights reserved. With a . December 1, 2022. Download it here. 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. The decision affects both the major league and minor league camps. 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. Braves brace for spring training push following World Series victory, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "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. 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. The Rays easy solution to fixing their money and attendance problems is to simply move north to Tampa. If the Rays played their spring training games as well as a portion of the 162-game regular season in Ybor City, the Rays would likely play the same teams they do now. They have a lease that runs through 2031 after recent extensions, according to the Port Charlotte Sun. Writers and fans STILL dont have much to talk about right now regarding baseball, but in other news, MLB finally shot down. Its definitely still a possibility and a good idea at that. Charlotte Sports Park (formerly known as Charlotte County Stadium and Ranger Stadium) is a baseball stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida.The stadium is the home field for Tampa Bay Rays spring training operations, as well as its Rookie-class Florida Complex League Rays teams. So would bringing a team back there make sense? Insert the Rays into Memphis, and you have a city on the rise with two very young franchises thriving on the baseball diamond and hardwood. Other Franchises: San Antonio Spurs (four championships), San Antonio Silver Stars. The Montreal thing has come up a number of times the past few years. Can this problem be solved with money and a stadium move to Tampa proper? (Photo by Julio Aguilar/G. The Rays Minor League camp will be based out of the Disney complex throughout Spring Training. 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. However, at its closest, St. Pete is six to eight miles from the city of Tampa and much, much farther coming from surrounding suburbs. The Rays are locked into a lease at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg through 2027, while the lease for spring training in Port Charlotte runs through 2028. 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. The 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns. 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. Because they play somewhere accessible for the greater Tampa Bay area. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. The Indiana Pacers are floundering at the moment, which would provide the Rays with an opening to win over the Indianapolis fanbase. 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. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. Tampa residents Dennis Gallagher and his daughter Kate wait for the start of the Tampa Bay Rays final home spring training game last season. The Rays have arguably the best bullpen in the big leagues. Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training: Southern Exposure. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. 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. 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. 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. There isnt really an issue with this proposal. 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). And even if the Rays create a mini-dynasty and win four of the next five championships, the current situation (crappy stadium, poor attendance, terrible local access) at a consistent rate will cause the owners and operators to question the viability of a Tampa franchise. Memphis is the 19th-largest city in the United States and features the Memphis Grizzlies, whose rise from the cellar of the NBA is much similar to the Rays'. The Oakland Athletics are packing their bags for Las Vegas, a long-expected move that will affect far more baseball fans than in those two cities. Floridians dont care about baseball as much hence Florida Marlins. 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 Raleigh-based Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) have also begun to sputter. The Spurs have been world class forwellever it seems. "Following a joint assessment of the . Last night's game drew 9,916 fans, but the average attendance through Monday marked a 57% jump "from last years low point over a similar stretch and a milestone worth noting. The Rays in 2019 "drew 22 crowds of less than 10,000, with a low of 5,786. After four consecutive playoff runs -- the most prosperous stretch in franchise history -- the locals may be responding (USA TODAY, 4/25). Tampa, mainly, services minor league teams. Here is a look at seven cities that could benefit from the addition of a major league franchise, in this case, the Tampa Bay Rays. Not much has changed in Tampa Bay this year either. Rays president Brian Auld, who attended the mayor's event, said in a brief interview it is "a thrill" to see the project take a major step forward. PETERSBURG -- Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Rays will not be able to hold Spring Training in Port Charlotte next year. Rays ownership still has a proposal for a $700 million stadium in Ybor City at their feet, and with the split-season proposal with Montreal shot down, the idea is gaining traction. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. The latest personnel hires and promotions, plus exclusive ratings and research from the sports industry. 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. Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. CHARLOTTE COUNTY Sean Doherty, director of tourism for the Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, can recall when the area's name recognition increasedafter the Tampa Bay Rays moved theirspring training headquarters to Charlotte Sports Park. Will Charlotte get MLB team? The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1. Not to mention that the Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. 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