Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Rays owner: Tampa-Montreal plan best option

Written by 
Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 25 June 2019 15:17

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The principal owner of the Rays says it's unrealistic for his team to play full time in the Tampa Bay area and a shared season with Montreal is the best option.

"I don't see it happening in St. Petersburg and would be hard-pressed to see it working in Tampa from what I know," Stu Sternberg said at a news conference Tuesday. "This is not a staged exit. This is about Tampa Bay keeping its hometown team and Montreal having one, too. I believe strongly in the sister-city concept. We're asking for open minds."

Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week the Rays have "broad permission to explore what's available." Tampa Bay is averaging 14,546 fans a game, lowest in the American League and well below the MLB average of 27,360. Only the Miami Marlins draw worse at 9,378.

"We are at or near the bottom in every economic category in Major League Baseball," Sternberg said in his remarks at the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.

An agreement between the Rays and St. Petersburg for Tropicana Field runs through 2027. St. Petersburg's mayor has shot down the two-city possibility.

"The City of St. Petersburg will not participate in the funding of a new stadium for a part-time team," Mayor Rick Kriseman said. "We remain receptive to partnering with the Tampa Bay Rays to redevelop the Tropicana Field site and build a new stadium for a full-time team."

Sternberg envisions open-air stadiums in both cities but noted there are no plans to pay for them. He said an ideal target date would have everything in place for the 2024 season.

The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since their inception in 1998 and drew their lowest home crowd of 5,786 against Toronto last month.

Montreal has been without a big league team since the Expos left after the 2004 season for Washington and became the Nationals.

The Rays had looked into building a stadium for years, but in December abandoned a plan for one across the bay in Tampa's Ybor City area.

Private equity mogul Stephen Bronfman, whose father Charles was the original owner of the Expos, is part of a group spearheading the effort to return baseball to Montreal.

Sternberg said it's possible the Bronfman group could join the current Rays' ownership if the sister-city plans succeeds, but he will keep controlling interest.

Sternberg reiterated that the Rays will remain in St. Petersburg through 2027 but doesn't know what would happen after that if the plan fails.

A possible site for a new St. Petersburg ballpark would be Al Lang Stadium, a longtime spring training facility now used by a pro soccer team owned by the Rays.

Also under consideration: shifting the spring training season from Port Charlotte, Florida, to Tampa Bay to provide two more months of baseball in the area.

Read 2072 times

Soccer

Sources: Police question player amid rape claims

Sources: Police question player amid rape claims

EmailPrintA Premier League footballer accused of rape has been questioned by police for a second tim...

Vinícius is a star at Real Madrid, but why not for Brazil?

Vinícius is a star at Real Madrid, but why not for Brazil?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAdditional reporting by Gustavo Hofman.Vinícius Júnior didn't win t...

Laporte open to joining injury-hit Real Madrid

Laporte open to joining injury-hit Real Madrid

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAl Nassr defender Aymeric Laporte has said he would listen to an ap...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Standings: Biggest surprises and underperformers of the season so far

Standings: Biggest surprises and underperformers of the season so far

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe 2024-25 NBA season is just a few weeks old, and teams are alrea...

At 39, LeBron oldest with 3 straight triple-doubles

At 39, LeBron oldest with 3 straight triple-doubles

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- LeBron James recorded the 40th 30-point triple-doubl...

Baseball

Williams' Medal of Freedom, MVP up for auction

Williams' Medal of Freedom, MVP up for auction

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBOSTON -- Ted Williams' Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was pr...

Guardians, AL Central champions, tweak staff

Guardians, AL Central champions, tweak staff

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- Guardians manager Stephen Vogt made some tweaks to Cle...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated