MLB Calls Out the Tampa Bay Region

[BigJonEmpire]

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/sternberg-mlb-doesnt-believe-anymore-in-the-tampa-bay-region/

“The Commissioner has had conversations with Stuart Sternberg and is disappointed with the current situation in the Tampa Bay market. The status quo is simply not sustainable. The Rays have been a model organization, averaging nearly 92 wins per year since 2008 and participating in the Postseason three times, including their inaugural World Series in 2008.

“Their .565 winning percentage over the last five years is second among all American League Clubs and third in all of Major League Baseball.

“Last year, the 30 Major League Clubs averaged nearly 2.5 million in total attendance; the Rays, who finished with a 90-72 record, drew 1,559,681, which ranked last in the game.

“The Club is an eager contributor to worthy causes in the Tampa and St. Petersburg communities and takes pride in meeting the social responsibilities that come with being a Major League franchise. We are hopeful that the market will respond in kind to a Club that has done a marvelous job on and off the field.”

I think the fan bases in half the major league cities would love to switch teams with the Rays.

[Moonlight J]

same old story

hell, there's something like 10 AAA teams that have bigger populations within 30 minutes of their stadium than the Rays do



vs where I think the stadium should be

[dslaw]

Good think MLB cares about things like attendance in Tampa instead of things like attendance in Miami where Selig's hand picked owner drives almost all fans away. I guess they snookered Miami into paying for a new park already so they don't care anymore.

[BigJonEmpire]

Wow, they really are surrounded by a lot of water. That illustrates part of the problem very well.

[DJBeasties]

Plus don't you have to go over a long bridge to get there which is a traffic issue?

[The Dane]

Of course, San Francisco has a lot of these same obstacles (water/bridges/low nearby population), so they CAN be overcome with the right community relations. Obviously, the Giants have other advantages as well, so it isn't a totally fair comparison, but it's a situation that can be worked around.

[willthethrill]

If they were to move the team from Tampa, are there any cities that are trying to lure a major league team?

[Long John]

My guess would be Portland OR or Charlotte. They're both regions with growing economies.

[DJBeasties]

Of course, San Francisco has a lot of these same obstacles (water/bridges/low nearby population), so they CAN be overcome with the right community relations. Obviously, the Giants have other advantages as well, so it isn't a totally fair comparison, but it's a situation that can be worked around.

SF is vibrant metropolis with a concentration of people and rich heritage and St Petersburg is a retirement destination lol. And I bet a lot of the retirees are Yankees and Sox fans. IT's too bad for the team because they are awesome.

[SlideRule]

We did just get the Hillsboro Hops (DBacks short season A) here in the Portland Metro area, so we'll have to see how much support they get. I do think there's an almost zero chance of any public funding going towards a new stadium or anything of that nature in Portland. And while the Timbers do get a lot of rabid fans, baseball is a different beast, with 81 games and a less "festive" atmosphere than the euro-style soccer bleacher environment. Still, would love to see it happen.

[mgwiz22]

Maybe they'll move to Orlando and become the Disney Rays.

[madducks]

If they were to move the team from Tampa, are there any cities that are trying to lure a major league team?

My guess would be Portland OR or Charlotte. They're both regions with growing economies.

A couple more:

Albuquerque
Indianapolis
Nashville
New Orleans

[TopChuckie]

same old story

hell, there's something like 10 AAA teams that have bigger populations within 30 minutes of their stadium than the Rays do



vs where I think the stadium should be

Yes, if they would just move across the bridge I'd go a few more times per year. If they moved a little farther east, near the Hard Rock Casino, I'd go even more often, and I'm confident far more of Orlando would go as well. Couple that with an open air, retractable roof stadium, instead of the basement they play in now, and I think they would be fine.

Ironic the Giants were brought up, they almost moved to Tampa.

[Silentmist]

If they would come to New Orleans I'd be the first (and probably only) person in line for season tickets.

[Moonlight J]

http://www.tvb.org/media/file/TVB_Market_Profiles_Nielsen_Household_DMA_Ranks2.pdf

Tampa Bay area is a top 15 Nielson market - baseball will not leave it. There is a baseball team in each of the top 18 TV markets.

Highest rated city without a baseball team is -- my town. Combine Orlando and Tampa Bay and you get a top 5 TV market. That's why they want the market to work and they're not going to leave it for a large reduction in households in Portland or Charlotte