Rays have explored becoming 2 city team (with Montreal) (upd: rejected by MLB)

[GKJ]

Agreed. At some point, you just have to concede it won't work in the Tampa area if you can't get a new stadium built.

I doubt either fanbase wants to share a team. It would be like sharing a soda with a stranger.

I think it will work in Montreal, because I think they'll want to prove they can and will support baseball (not like that was the issue before). To think this was how it would've turned out of the White Sox moved to Tampa back in the late-80s

 

[Blitzkrug]

The most hilarious thing about this is Olympic Stadium is just as big a dump as the Trop is.

Though at least it's far more accessible.

 

[EpochLink]

What the...f***?!

 

[Mightygoose]

Does this mean the Jays have a domestic divisional rival now?

Also, the Rays are a pretty good team. Will playoff games still be in TB?

Though I would like to see a team in Montreal again...what a gong show Rays fans (whatever's left of them) have to put up with.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Has this ever worked out long term?

The most hilarious thing about this is Olympic Stadium is just as big a dump as the Trop is.

Though at least it's far more accessible.

No but the plan is to build a cheaper outdoor stadium in Tampa and then play the later games in Montreal. It's a novel idea for sure.

Oh, you wont use tax payer money to pay for a new stadium? Well then allow me to hold the team hostage until you do.

Again, on the surface this isn't for a relocation. They main issue in Tampa, aside from a site, is the insane cost of a domed stadium.

 

[Master P]

Oh, you wont use tax payer money to pay for a new stadium? Well then allow me to hold the team hostage until you do.

 

[Melrose Munch]

This sounds like something that would be the topic of an offseason HFBoards thread, rather than an actual thing a team is considering.

I swear I used to see this topic at least once every three weeks 10-12 years ago!

Sad day for Tampa fans. Wondering when the NFL is going to do this to the Jaguars...

 

[MS]

This is literally the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard.

 

[Bjorn Le]

What this almost certainly means long term is the Rays are dead in Tampa and this is to give Montreal a jumpstart. Not that there would be a long-term two-team city. Of course they don't want to say that yet because Manfred is a good commissioner and he doesn't want Tampa to drop even farther into the bottom of the barrel, where they not only have shitty attendance but also have shitty TV numbers as well. Selig was too arrogant to understand that.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Just move to Mtl because Ray fans are going to rightfully tell them to f*** off at this idea

 

[razor ray]

Montreal ExRays of Tampa Bay

Boom! That’s it!

 

[Louie the Blue]

What 'fans'? Their team is great, tickets and beers are cheap and yet no one shows up to the games....

Have you been to a Rays game in St. Pete?

Tropicana Field is not a good stadium for baseball and there’s nothing entertainment wise near the stadium.

 

[robert terwilliger]

lmao

 

[Terry Yake]

the last time a team did this they ended up relocating a year or two later

it'd really suck to see TB lose the rays but their stadium situation isn't looking great at all. they play in a dump that's out of the way and i believe their latest ballpark plan was canceled late last year. not to mention they'd have to play indoors because of the terrible weather almost year-long

 

[robert terwilliger]

i get this is trying to force the hand of st pete but man oh man.

when i was reading and got to the line about playing in a new stadium in both cities i had to stop i was laughing so hard.

 

[82Ninety42011]

I think this is a first step to see the interest in Montreal for the team to just move there. Seems crazy to be sharing the team between these two cities more then meets the eye I believe happening here.

 

[MMC]

 

[Giuseppe Franco]

Although I would like to see a team back in Montreal (I went to the Big O and saw the Expos last game at Shea), I do think it’s rich how some of their fans have knocked the Rays attendance as a reason for moving. I mean, do you not know your own team’s attendance history? And yes, of course you had legitimate reasons for those low numbers. So does Tampa. Reminds me of some of my fellow Isles fans who knock other teams for lack of fan support.

 

[robert terwilliger]

lmao that's right, the lease doesn't expire for another 8 years.

so now this whole thing is going to be the turd in the middle of the room for almost another decade.

 

[Jaguar God]

I swear I used to see this topic at least once every three weeks 10-12 years ago!

Sad day for Tampa fans. Wondering when the NFL is going to do this to the Jaguars...

Jacksonville doesn't have the attendance issues the Rays have...

98.3% capacity 2018 (16th overall)
95.6% capacity 2017 (18th overall)
92.2% capacity 2016 (26th overall)
91.5% capacity 2015 (27th overall)
93.7% capacity 2014 (25th overall).

The Jags are nowhere close to being as bad as the Rays.

 

[robert terwilliger]

they also only play like 6 games at home so their games are more of an event.

the nfl only plays on sunday, monday and saturday(?) i think so it's easier to get a lot of people there for those games than a wednesday home game against the royals or something.

 

[MMC]

they also only play like 6 games at home so their games are more of an event.

the nfl only plays on sunday, monday and saturday(?) i think so it's easier to get a lot of people there for those games than a wednesday home game against the royals or something.

Thursday

 

[robert terwilliger]

well shit.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Thursday

Both. The NFL has Saturday games after the college season is over.

 

[Bjorn Le]

Lol, it’s not his choice. The team can do whatever they want, and a bad lease isn’t going to stop them. If they want to hasten the death of the team pre-2027, they can do that. But that’s all they can do. There is little to no chance the Rays are still playing in Tropicana in 2027.