ownership that would have seen the ball club split its time in Tampa and Montreal, Marc Topkin of theTopkin says Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg will address the issue in a press conference Thursday afternoon.the Rays -- who regularly rank near the bottom of attendance in MLB -- could remain a profitable franchise.
The Rays initially conceived of the plan in 2019 as the team plans for a future beyond 2027, when the lease at Tropicana Field expires. At a press conference outlining the plan in 2019, Sternberg said the Tampa region cannot support a ball club for 81 home dates but added he doesn't plan on fully relocating the team.
“I have no intention of selling this baseball team,” Sternberg said in 2019. “I love being involved with baseball and all I’m able to do with it. What happens next I do not know. Even though it seems like a longshot idea to everybody and a cockamamie idea and whatever else it’s been called, we really do feel great about it and think it can get done.”
While not everyone supported the idea -- Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reports the mayor of St. Petersburg was against it -- Rays ownership did have a potential partner in Montreal. Stephen Bronfman, the son of former Montreal Expos owner Charles Bronfman, is leading a group to bring baseball back to Montreal and spoke with the Rays on multiple occasions about the idea.
In 2021, the Rays announced plans to hang a sign in support of the plan at Tropicana Field during the post-season. However, after criticism from the fanbase, the sign
The Rays should just move to Montreal.
Good. It was a stupid plan to begin with and should have never been entertained for more than a day. Build the stadium in Ybor City and watch the seats fill up.
Your tweet was quoted in an article by Essentially Sports
in the end, the Rays will stay in Tampa, and Montreal, Nashville, Portland and Las Vegas will get expansion teams in the next 10 years.
I'm glad. This was all-time dumb and nothing but, pure greed. Build a new ballpark in Tampa.
Nobody cares and that poverty franchise, they have like 100 fans,
i don't want to hear excuses from Tampa fans about traffic. You ever try going to a Dodgers game?
Too hot to play baseball in Tampa in the summer? Or is it just Florida in general?
Whooptie doo. They have a great team on a cheap payroll... and are beating Yankees, so they now earn my hate.
Yeah. This is a big mistake, Baseball. There are a lot of cities that can't support a major league team, but could definitely support half of one.
Hey! I’ve been using Cash App to send money and spend using the Cash Card. Try it using my code and you’ll get $5. DLKHXDP
great
GOOD…..
So you can manifest everything your heart desires, wants, and deserves. tampabayrays manifest jobfair prayer science Meditation WorkFromHome dreams fitness viralpost religious chakra astrology movies Netflix computers games family love
They should just move to Montreal. Florida sucks
Thank god
Lmao... that was still a thing?!
Thank god they won't let that clown show happen
Thank you
Move the team to Montreal full time.
Too bad. Tropicana is a dump. Worst stadium of the many I’ve been too by far.
Interesting idea kinda shitty league wouldn't even let em try it
Would have been great to see baseball in Montreal again
I could never see MLB Players Association ever going for this. It would mean uprooting entire families halfway through the season. There’s just no way that they would approve it for anything other than an emergency situation.
I'm guessing Canadians didn't want so many whackjobs from Florida coming over to Canada at once to watch games. Many of em would've been unmasked n bringing covid with them also.
Thank god. Pick a city!
This us the worst state, they don't think about traffic patterns, congestion or anything when deciding to build anything.
Someone please break the back of the mayor of St. Petersburg so they can break the lease and move to Tampa proper... or hell make them move to Charlotte that doesn't sound too bad
San antonio
*sigh*
JustinBodfield
Yeah why be creative at a time like this ?
Good. To hell with Montreal !!
Greed is a funny thing $tu...people can smell it & when they do they react in ways that don't lend to supporting the greedy Vinik proved by locating downtown & not being greedy works Taxpayers will only go so far,and Tampa is now Champa-Bay MLB wants team here,$tu has to delive
Who wants to sit in a stadium during a pandemic? Good for MLB. The Rays owner is greedy and delusional.
Sell the team... We dont need u or want u in tampa... All it will do is create more traffic and headaches and rising rates.. And i damn sure aint paying for a new stadium. The owners got enough cash to foot their own bill for it.
That would have been cool!
The Rays should relocate. Their fanbase is nonexistent.
The Rays should relocate to Montreal bring back that sweet expos logo
Why not just MOVE the team to Montreal?
No surprise. This was never going to happen in the best of times. Just look at the problems the NHL had with teams being unable to cross the border last month.
This is only good news if it means the club will be in Montreal 100% of the time.
With COVID and border rules, that would be a disaster right now anyway.
Good. Need to invest in Tampa market.
Why is no one looking to Puerto Rico for a stadium and team?
B.S. MLB afraid of change. Set in their old traditional ways.
CanadaHasFallen no one will go there
that's because it was stupid to begin with sternberg. Rays splitting cities would be like having a open relationship. Never works out in the long run
Why? Great idea maybe they could play in every state in the USA that doesn't have a MLB Team. Gonna be some small ball parks in Sodak, Nodak, ME etc. but they will rise to the occasion. It worked in IA didn't it?
MadDogUnleashed this is good news for you
Their 12 fans are ecstatic
I wonder why. 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
There’s no doubt it was never gonna end in supporting that piece of crap plan
Move this team to Orlando already, this has been going on for too long.
UrinatingTree
They'll be here before you know it.
Yeah… kind of saw that one coming…
Pull tampa completely and move them to Montreal and pull Miami and move them as well
You know what the City of Tampa needs to do? They need to get rid of Steinbrenner Field across the street from Raymond James Stadium and replace it with a new Rays stadium. There is absolutely no reason for the Yankees to have a more prime location in our city than our home team.
A team that nobody cares about not doing something that nobody cares about.
Good. Second worst idea ever.
Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffet could off me each half their fortune and I wouldn't go to a Rays game. That stadium is the most depressing dank price of shit of a ballpark.
Just move the team the Montreal in general Cuze they ain’t get no fans in Tampa
Hahahaha good
Indianapolis Rays lets go baby
YOUR NOT EVEN IN TAMPA THE STADIUM IS IN ST. PETE. CHANGE THE LOCATION TO TAMPA AND YOU END THE CURSE!!!
Doesn't MLB have bigger problems with a lockout before worrying about things like this?
Nikola Jokic for MVP.
Canada kicking the Jays out of Toronto to Buffalo over COVID wasn't a good sales tactic. Buffalo can't host both Toronto and Montreal teams.
Good. That was such a dumb idea. Fully commit to one city or the other.
Yes, F Canada
Better to move the A's from Oakland to Nashville first.
I mean it’s not the Tampa Bay/ Montreal Rays… if you want a new stadium then ask the city and if they won’t give it to you then find another that will
Kyle_Keefe 😔
im not suprised mlb not thinking about fans and teams they owe montreal a team unless they'll charge a trillion $ expansion fee i dont want to c cities lose a team but this team avg 9,500 fans is a joke
Oh really. Interesting.
Good, it was a stupid idea
Just.. Good!
Definitely squash innovation.
Yea. That would be just too much fun.
I agree with this.. but Montreal does need a team.
I’m sure Quebec’s authoritarian government mandates had nothing to do with it lol
You can move to Oakland in two years. We’ll need a new team..
What, splitting between TWO cities that failed to support a team is not a good idea? Who would have thought.
Nobody gives a fuck about baseball🤣 play a real sport not a little kids game
That fact it took this long to realize this was a terrible idea is terrifying
They should split their time between AA and AAA.
The RaysBaseball should move to Fargo, ND
Change the name of the team to Florida man and you will put butts in the seats I can tell you.🏟
My cousin lived 1 block from Jarry Park, Montreal. I was 14, Barsalos was I guess 11. He showed me the whole place.... from the outside. It was his playground. imo MLB baseball belongs in Montreal. It was all hockey and baseball growing up, still is. Phillies NHLFlyers
Good! It was a stupid idea.
All 50 Rays fans are happy
Move to Orlando. At least your stadium will be filled with out of towners. Money is money.
Vegas gets the Rays
Let's fucking go
It’s ridiculous that this stadium issue is still going on. St Pete made the Rays and they should get the stadium. People in Tampa have cars. The end. That simple.
How stupid was it to begin with. Move them across the border if they want them there. There is no real love in Tampa. And a terrible ballpark. Move along if Montreal wants to participate in baseball.
Who’s going to want to sign w/ them?
Thank you!! That drive to St Pete is horrible!! Move to Tampa Bay, you'll see a big difference! CityofTampa RaysBaseball
That's because they're coming to Nashville
Maybe they should move to Tampa.
It was a stupid idea anyway.
MLB stifling innovation and fan engagement. Par for the course. Thanks Manfred.
They should let them go full time to Montreal.
Tampa needs to support a great team and organization …if not, why not Montreal?
Damn! Always wanna kill a convenient plan.
EXPunged. LOL. Montreal should never see baseball in Canada again unless it is via Toronto. They banished their team in a fit of defiance and lost all their MLB rights.
Move to Montreal already.
Why would anyone want to go to Canada… never mind Quebec 😂😂😂
there's going to be a new club in Montreal soon isn't there?
This team has been a competitive team for the last 15 years and still no one in that city cares. That means you should move. Tampa doesn't want to build them a stadium and neither does the state and Florida builds stadiums for every team
jimmybeesgirl 😢 ⚾️ 🏟
Ok… but what about the plans to have StephenCurry featured as NBAAllStar captain. Many many MLB fans approve of this message!
Tampa doesn't deserve a baseball team. I could understand if the Rays were a terrible team but they're usually pretty damn competitive.
MLB hates baseball
One of the dumbest ideas I’ve heard in a long long time
No one’s gonna show up whether it’s in Tampa or in fanless Canada
Move to Durham NC rename into the bulls and call it a day.
Good, it was an idiotic move in the first place lol
Thank fucking god. What an incredibly stupid idea.
Good because that was a stupid idea.
Good cause that would be dumb I could see if they was close but it's two different countries
I don't know if this was a good idea but it does seem like baseball is out to hurt the Rays.
Wouldn't want to disappoint the fan.
Little did I know I was dressed to read this…
This sounds inconvenient
BREAKING: MLB likes losing money in Tampa, would like to continue to lose money.
you all realize Rays play in St. Pete not Tampa right?
Good.
Move the team to Hawaii and be done with it. The attendance won't be any worse than it already is.
They would rather have empty building in Tampa.
MattDeRamo
The Ray's need to be in partnership with Disney. Build a huge out door stadium in Orlando. You can tie games with Star Wars,Marvel and all the other things Disney owns.
Good.
Next they will put an end to the season in it’s entirety.
RaysBaseball put this team in Tampa and not St.Petersburg!!
I don't see MLB going full time into Canada again after what the pandemic did to the Blue Jays, and still might do to them in 2022.
How would that even work?
Probably because they know the 2022 season will be wiped out by the lockout
Didn’t expect it to happen anyway
The Sister City idea was always dumb as hell and would have been BAD for baseball. Smart move killing a hack plan.
That's garbage. Montreal deserves a team
Everyone in Tampa/St.P are Yankees fans
Bad choices are a must for MLB
This is gay I’m sorry
Duh
Relocate RaysBaseball up to Raleigh.
Lettttssssss play ball it’s gammmmeeeee deehhhh
Can anyone explain why the two Florida teams, even in their championship and playoff years, can't draw a crowd, even with stadiums with roofs and a demographic that loves baseball and has disposable income? Minor league teams draw better.
I'm ready for DavidPSamson take on this!
At this point, if they can't get a stadium on the Tampa side, they absolutely have to leave Tampa
Too bad...would have been a great way to link Québec & Florida better
Good
A new stadium would help in Tampa.
Thank God, this was such a dumb idea. All the money and interest between Tampa and St Pete and we are talking about sending the Rays to Montreal? Build a new stadium that doesn't suck and get the Rays a fanbase.
i thought yall said the rays were going to be removed as a mlb team lol
Thank god
mattastic813 kingjl1124 hope this ends well. Would suck to lose the rays before this next run they are about to go on.
Don’t take our Rays. Once Brady retires they’re all we’re gonna have because the Bucs are going to go back to being trash
The Rays should move to Portland.
Is it too early to assume we'll get the Charlotte Raes?
Good!
FOR THE LAST TIME . . .THE RAYS PLAY IN ST. PETE! Majority of fans are in Tampa. STADIUM IS IN ST. PETERSBURG, PLEASE! NEVER SAY 'TAMPA' WHEN REFERRING TO THE RAYS! IT MUST BE 'TAMPA BAY' OR 'ST. PETE' EVERY SINGLE TIME! YOU'RE BETTER THAN THAT! ACCURACY MATTERS, EH?
Bro please just move the team out of Tampa Bay. Move it to Nashville or San Antonio or Louisville or something but this was always a stupid idea.
Bring the expos back!
MLB would never allow a franchise in Montreal even if it was part time. Been there done that.
It was a ridiculous idea. But I am curious what reason MLB gave.
I didn't even know this was a thing (lol).
Get them in Tampa away from the bridges. Attendance will improve.
This has gone on beyond long enough. I remember seeing drawings and 3D models of new stadiums in Tampa/St Pete in 2013…. Almost a decade later. Build a new stadium or relocate. RaysBaseball
If Montreal draws higher attendance, leave Tampa Bay. Florida baseball teams have horrible attendance records
How? There’s a lockout
Too bad!!!!!
They need to move for realz
Rays feasibility in the Tampa region comes back to stadium LOCATION above all else
MLB saw pressuring Oakland working and now wants to do the same to Tampa. Get ready for the Las Vegas Rays rumors.
EFF OFF MANFRED
Change the name and colours too?….
Team needs a new ballpark. The warehouse has seen better days.
Getting spanked by the Lightning will a bad taste in their mouth 😂
Mlb is soft. mlb mlbpa tampabayrays
They must have saw how the Canadiens were doing and were like “uhh…. Yeah nope!”
:(
Father_Goose7 slapshot007 BobbyBatFlip BOOOOOO
THANK YOU!! What a greedy idea, (splitting up players and families for half a season )Sternberg doesn’t deserve to own a major league sports team. Tampa can support the Bucs and the Lightning!Why not baseball?
Ya this paves the way for 100% time in Montreal
CityNewsKIT Good, they'd probably lock everyone in their province down and there would be ZERO people in attendance. Good for the MLB, correct decision.
hopefully this means they'll just fully move them to Montreal
Good why would they put games in a country that doesn't allow fans lmao especially communist Montreal
Thank god, dumbest idea ever! Baseball players are already never home then they wanted to play half their home games in Canada where they Probably won’t allow fans anyway! Dumbest idea ever! These guys have lives too!
They rather have the Rays move entirely in Montreal instead. Logic
Is gary bettman running the league? Keeping sports out of Canada?
Jays are gonna end up starting the season in Buffalo again.
Cool, we were going to the Trop to see the Jays in September, but were certain that game would be a huge draw in Montreal. Now we can go! Family, RHCP and Jays!! NICE!!!
It was always going to end this way. The team should just leave Tampa. Full stop. That market is a very very bad baseball market.
MLB hates Canada.
Article doesn't even say why. Literally just read the headline. That's all the info
Stop 🛑 it and Just moved them to Montreal.
Old people have no fun
Good.
Fire Manfred
Awwwwww
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Source: nationalpost - 🏆 10. / 80 Read more »
Source: Sportsnet - 🏆 57. / 59 Read more »
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »