Rays have explored becoming 2 city team (with Montreal) (upd: rejected by MLB)
- Thread starter MMC
- Start date
Terry Yake
Registered User
- Aug 5, 2013
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lolwut
are they trying to do what the expos used to do back in the day playing some games in PR?
are they trying to do what the expos used to do back in the day playing some games in PR?
That seems like a pretty monumental development for the city of Montreal. Might be their way of backdooring back into the league.
Marc the Habs Fan
Moderator
This is a bad, bad idea and I speak as someone who wants MLB back in MTL desperately.
No Fun Shogun
34-38-61-10-13-15
How should we get fans to come to our games? I know! By letting the fanbase know that the (seemingly) critical second half of the season playoff push games are all going to be played elsewhere!
Absurdly blatant one foot out the door gesture.
Absurdly blatant one foot out the door gesture.
MMC
Global Moderator
This is brutal for the fans in TB. All the meaningful games would be played elsewhere. Can't see the players being a fan of this either.
John Price
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- Sep 19, 2008
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then play somewhere else in America
Montreal? Are you kiddin' me? We already had an American team play in Toronto. It didn't work out...
AdmiralsFan24
Registered User
NYRFAN218
King
My favorite part of the story is they want new buildings in BOTH cities.
What uniforms do they wear? What’s the team called? Where do the ticket reps work? I’ve got so many questions.
What uniforms do they wear? What’s the team called? Where do the ticket reps work? I’ve got so many questions.
What 'fans'? Their team is great, tickets and beers are cheap and yet no one shows up to the games....
GKJ
Global Moderator
- Feb 27, 2002
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Voight
#winning
I really doubt this is going to work.
- MLBPA will freak if their players now have to buy/rent homes in two different cities, especially ones that are in different countries.
- They aren't even remotely close.
- Two different ways of living
- Do they switch team names in MTL? Or are the Exporays?
- If I live in TB/ST. Pete why on earth would I buy season tickets if I know all the "good games" will be in another country.
- MLBPA will freak if their players now have to buy/rent homes in two different cities, especially ones that are in different countries.
- They aren't even remotely close.
- Two different ways of living
- Do they switch team names in MTL? Or are the Exporays?
- If I live in TB/ST. Pete why on earth would I buy season tickets if I know all the "good games" will be in another country.
razor ray
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- May 8, 2011
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John Price
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- Sep 19, 2008
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The problem with TB is that the damn stadium is so far from the city. It sucks to get to.
They won't build a new stadium in TB proper either. Sad.
They won't build a new stadium in TB proper either. Sad.
Marc the Habs Fan
Moderator
It will be very hard to convince players to stay with the franchise, or join the franchise, when they have to basically maintain 2 homes in completely different places during a season. And what about the players who have kids in school? No one wants to go through this year after year.
So basically, the franchise is at a major competitive disadvantage because everything has to be done via the farm system and trading for young players. Granted, the current Rays seemingly change everything around every 12-18 months with their roster and never go into FA anyway.
It may be a success for 2-3 years but I think at some point Montrealers are going to want the team here fulltime and it will be hard to get people fully engaged if there is only 3-4 months of baseball. What happens if the Rays are 10 games under .500 and out of it by the time they play a home game in Montreal? This is a ridiculously fickle town.
Anyway it's all contingent on a new stadium being built and I have serious doubts the money (at least 500 M US) is there for that. I'll believe it when I see it.
MMC
Global Moderator
Sports1131
Registered User
- Oct 24, 2004
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I desperately want the Expos back, but I just don't understand how this is an approach worth considering.
- I understand the cost savings of not needing a roof in either location, but especially in the case of Tampa where they are looking for public financing for the stadium, why would the city want to invest a substantial amount of money for a significantly reduced amount of revenue? I would think the cost savings from omitting a roof would be more than erased by lack of parking, ticket, etc. revenue. Additionally, if players don't call a city home for six months out of the year, doesn't that cause them to miss out on a lot of money from income tax on the players?
- I can't imagine the MLBPA being on board with this as players would essentially not have a real home. Are kids supposed to split the school year in two different countries (and potentially languages) or are families supposed to be separated for half of the season? This team would be avoided like the plague by free agents.
- How could you possibly brand this team in a way that makes sense? Call them the Tampa Bay Rays for half the season and Montreal Expos for the rest? Montreal ExRays of Tampa Bay?
- Why would a fan in Tampa want to invest in a team that would have all meaningful games (probably including playoffs?) held in a different city?
Reality Check
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- May 28, 2008
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Just contract the Rays already or move them to an actual viable city. It's not working and hasn't worked for years.
This is somehow worse than the Expos playing a small chunk of their games in Puerto Rico
MMC
Global Moderator
This sounds like something that would be the topic of an offseason HFBoards thread, rather than an actual thing a team is considering.
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