On Tuesday, Disney announced the Tampa Bay Rays will conduct part of the teams 2023 spring training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. When he is not at work you can catch him at one of Orlando's theme parks or the beach. One possibility under consideration is for the team to move to land on the western edge of Tampa's Ybor City, space formerly occupied by Kforce headquarters, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Whatever he thinks works, works. (Lord knows it seems more realistic than Rays owner Stuart Sternberg's insulting two-city . 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. Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Corona March 3rd, 2023, at 2:41 pm. I decided to list 5 cities, one for each of the times a baseball flew into the Tropicana catwalks during the postseason over the years. 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. But its been nice to be around the senior baseball community here from all the other teams, theyve all been very complimentary. The . While she . ORLANDO, Fla. -- Baseball officials "have a sense of urgency" to find a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays after scrapping a plan to split seasons between Florida and Montreal when the team's . Maybe something near the airport? By all appearances, the Tampa Bay Rays are staying put. Major League Baseball nixed the plan to divide the Rays' home games between Tampa Bay and Montreal. Ron DeSantis vetoed $35 million in government spending for a new practice facility for the Tampa Bay Rays after the baseball team posted a tweet in support of gun control, according to Tampa Bay isnt a unified market like Minneapolis-St. Paul, he said, adding a more apt comparison might be Oakland and San Francisco. 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. Yes, basketball sold in the days of LeBron James, or even still. Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia. The team was relocated to Montgomery, AL before the 2004 season as the Montgomery Biscuits. Seven asteroids brushed past Earth this week: should we be worried? TAMPA, Fla. - The possibility of the Tampa Bay Rays moving out of St. Petersburg could be closer to reality. Fortunately, its not our first rodeo. 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. Disneys influence on baseball attendance is negligible - the Braves are leaving the stadium at the Disney sports complex (for Spring training) due to attendance and proximity to the other teams on the west coast of Florida. Bourse Orange County collects about triple the tourist bed taxes each year than the combined totals of Pinellas and Hillsborough. 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. 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. Thats up to Stu, Reinsdorf said. For urgent COVID info, see r/floridacoronavirus. I cant talk about what went on in the executive council meeting.. Matthew Moyer St. Petersburg simply isnt big enough to support a major league team, he said. A move to either Seattle or Milwaukee was also discussed. I'm fine with it. "I made a big mistake, a real mistake, in trying to promote our sister-city plan with a . Not to mention that the Triple-A Charlotte Knights get pretty good attendance, at least when COVID isnt affecting their numbers. create an agency to facilitate the process for Argentines, Charger specialist Anker launches a very promising 3D printer on Kickstarter. Hes going to do what hes going to do to pursue a team. The biggest reason to move to Charlotte is because it is an untapped baseball market. After a four-year absence, Major League Baseball's spring training is returning to Walt Disney World Resort. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Meoshi Mullins was given a notice in January that said on March 1, her rent will double. 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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 . Orlando does have some clear advantages. I think the reason for most attendance for a local team will be for the transplants who don't get to see their old home town teams much - it will be the Bronx south on Yankee series, little . Walt Disney World cast members and Marine representatives helped spread some extra holiday magic to hundreds of families over the weekend. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook. On the day that this article was written, the Tampa Bay Times reported that MLB officially shut down the split-city idea with Montreal. 1 min read. The market is there to be granted a team and the first advantage is that the club would remain in Florida. Top prospect Taj Bradley, Rays take on Red Sox today. 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. We want to be in the area, which is the most important thing. 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. Published Feb. 9, 2022. By 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. 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. I might rather sit in I-4 traffic rather than paying to watch a pitchers duel from the outfield bleachers. 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. 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. One of the most recent development in the future of the Tampa Bay Rays involves the city of Orlando. Not to mention a name change the Rays would have to do, to something like the Stars or Outlaws. People want us in the area, which is the most important thing. 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. 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. Baseball would be the most boring attraction of them all in Orlando. All rights reserved). Please considermaking a one time or monthly donationto help support our staff. If people can afford a family trip to Disney, they can spend a few extra bucks to see Mike Trout perform. As one myself, Im curious to know how the Mets fans have wronged you worse than Red Sox fans or (shudders) Yankee fans. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. After a four-year absence, Major League Baseballs spring training is returning to Walt Disney World Resort. Meanwhile, the Rays couldnt fill their stadium during a playoff game. This is the ONLY place the Rays need to go. Their attendance matches the teams talent level, and the Bucs have had great success, even before Tom Brady showed up in town. from Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. It might be best that the Rays relocate. You know youd rather not sit in i4 traffic. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. for you! As of April 1, 2020, the Orlando metro area ranked third in Florida demographically. posed a simple question: When the XFL returns, should the Tampa Bay Vipers stay in Tampa? Sports media giant ESPN announced Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, that it is cutting about 500 jobs from its global workforce and laying off about 300 employees. Whatever location would definitely have to be convenient, I agree. Videos by OutKick. COVID-19 I would not want it to be off i4 as its just horrendous as is. Theres also the fact that the Rays would have nowhere to play until they move, which sours the idea of an immediate relocation. What the Rays truly need is a third option . Maybe the Rays will be able to convince the city to fund a new ballpark, but even that might be risky. MLS home games number 17 (outside of post season), MLB has 81. France College kids don't even go to their own college baseball games that they can go to for free. Wherever it goes, it would turn into a ghost town slum with unrealized/failed developments all around it. We are not talking here about a first-class organization, such as the Lakers or the Celtics. Were always looking for top tier events, like the Rays spring training for our guests to enjoy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.. Mr. Soto or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Washington Nationals, The Nationals Stink, BAD. Florida is truly a football state, both professional and amateur. Jan. 20, 2022 - Montreal sister city stadium is a no-go. Its also a decent distance from Florida. Period. Culture on USA Letsgetstarted. Yeah, it should work.. The ongoing saga of where the Tampa Bay Rays will be play baseball . The Rays have trained since 2009 in Port Charlotte, Florida, about 90 minutes south of St. The Rays announced during a press conference on Friday that they officially intend to move the team from their current St. Petersburg location to Ybor City, a neighborhood in Tampa, and shed the . If you can plop a stadium right into downtown Tampa, you get it all. Either way, we'll get to see the Vipers go 2-10 and disappoint . 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. 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. MLB has tried to encourage o. Now I won't have to drive as far to see the Yankees. Tampa Bay is entering 2023 with high expectations after making it to the playoffs for the last four seasons. 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. Until the Rays say to some city, We want you, then it begins. The Tampa Bay Rays have submitted a proposal to build a new domed ballpark near the site of the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises current Tropicana Field home in St Petersburg, Florida. ORLANDO, Fla. Major League Baseball is coming back to Walt Disney World Resort in 2023. However, this time as just the Tampa Bay Rays. Orlando passed St. Petersburg to become the states fourth-largest city five years ago. If soccer can get people going, then so can baseball. Are the Tampa Rays getting a new stadium? If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Firstly, one has to know that Nashville has an entire website dedicated to making a push for their own Major League Baseball team. Theres also a lot of ifs. Landon joined News 6 in 2017. 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.