Bjorn Le
Hobocop
I know the lease is written quite comprehensively to deal with these situations, but I thought the 2024 date was when the penalties for breaking early start to become pro-rated based on the time remaining. But there is no impediment to the parties mutually agreeing to a new deal, if they so chose. Sternberg is using Montreal as leverage for a new stadium, but if public authorities aren't going to give the Rays and MLB what they want, they'll simply wait for the lease to expire and then move without any restrictions, giving St. Petersburg nothing. Have to imagine that, at least theoretically, St. Pete would at least consider a deal.Tampa can't buy their way out of the lease until at least 2024, I believe.
The Rays would have a place to go (Nashville, Portland, Montreal), but the problem is that MLB wants to expand to two cities; leaving two teams (TB/OAK) with one city to go to should they need to move.
Like Mightygoose says, MLB is waiting on a stadium deal for OAK/TB before they can expand, but the reality is that they do not need to get deals done in BOTH Oakland and Tampa before expanding, they just need Oakland or Tampa to bite on a new stadium for their teams, and then the other one has the leverage they need.
I don't get the impression that MLB wants to rush expansion/relocation. Yes, it would suck for Tampa to remain in that shithole for six more years, and Oakland could use a new stadium yesterday, but six years is not that long. I still think it's more likely that Oakland will get a deal done (and they would already have one if SF would relinquish San Jose). Once that is in place, you can either wait out the St. Pete lease, move forward with expansion with the two cities who are closest to being ready (likely Montreal/Nashville) and then move the Rays to the third city for the 2028 season.
I am not sure where Sternberg's headspace is now. With no insider information I doubt he is very optimistic that he'll get a new stadium in the Tampa area. But I don't know if his contingency if he doesn't get the stadium is to pursue relocation to Montreal himself (with or without Bronfman), pursue relocation elsewhere in the United States, or simply sell the team to someone else who will relocate.