MLB Off-Topic

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Rays have received MLB's permission to explore becoming two-city team: the Tampa Bay area and Montreal, sources tell ESPN. The plan: Play early-season home games in the Tampa Bay area and finish the season in Montreal. News at ESPN: https://t.co/X6uSt4KLfC
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 20, 2019

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What is this? If they make the playoffs where do they play?

I'm starting to think Manfred should be fired.

I actually think this is a great idea. See the response when its more than just a flyer of a series, vet out whether the city wants the team.

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[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I actually think this is a great idea. See the response when its more than just a flyer of a series, vet out whether the city wants the team.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

I mean sure, if it is for just 1 season go ahead. But it seems this is a long term play so the Tampa Bay Rays owners can cut cost for their new stadium.

I can't believe I even typed that last sentence.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I mean sure, if it is for just 1 season go ahead. But it seems this is a long term play so the Tampa Bay Rays owners can cut cost for their new stadium.

I can't believe I even typed that last sentence.

How is this helping cut costs on a new stadium? I think it's a foregone conclusion that the Rays will leave once the lease is up.

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[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Why do other owners care?

(Serious question, I've never understood this. Why would another franchise that is struggling make other owners want to "force change" on them)

Revenue sharing.

You have a team like Rays who are last in revenues, have more than half empty stadiums even in good years, just benefitting from other teams success through revenue sharing.

And I'm sure teams dont have high attendances when the Rays come to town. I know for the Jays, their worst attended home games each year are almost always games vs Rays. So you have not only Rays doing poorly, but impacting tickets in other markets too.

Rays attendance is under 15k. Even Os get 20k (and they're near bottom as well). Move Rays to new market, draw at least 20k fans, and that's definitely a few hundred thousand dollars extra revenue PER GAME, especially if that team charges more which is likely to happen given Rays prices.

And would it hurt the league at all if theres 1 team representing all of Florida? I'm sure most Rays fans probably just wind up Marlins fans anyways(and we know how bad Marlins need fans right now. Only thing they got going is ownership and stadium). So you won't be losing fans in Florida, and will be gaining more fans in a diff market.

Even players would be pushing for a move because Rays dont spend on players. Having a team willing to pay more money for guys, that means more money players will be getting.

I'd prefer it being Montreal, but if they move Rays anywhere, I'd still prefer it over TB

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

How is this helping cut costs on a new stadium? I think it's a foregone conclusion that the Rays will leave once the lease is up.

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Manfred referred to the idea of a two-city Rays team as a long-term project.
The ability to play games early in the season in Florida would preclude the need for a domed stadium, cutting the cost of a new building.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27016429/rays-explore-splitting-games-montreal

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Revenue sharing.

You have a team like Rays who are last in revenues, have more than half empty stadiums even in good years, just benefitting from other teams success through revenue sharing.

And I'm sure teams dont have high attendances when the Rays come to town. I know for the Jays, their worst attended home games each year are almost always games vs Rays. So you have not only Rays doing poorly, but impacting tickets in other markets too.

Rays attendance is under 15k. Even Os get 20k (and they're near bottom as well). Move Rays to new market, draw at least 20k fans, and that's definitely a few hundred thousand dollars extra revenue PER GAME, especially if that team charges more which is likely to happen given Rays prices.

And would it hurt the league at all of theres 1 team representing all of Florida? I'm sure most Rays fans probably just wind up Marlins fans anyways. So you won't be losing fans in Florida, and will be gaining more fans in a diff market.


I'd prefer it being Montreal, but if they move Rays anywhere, I'd still prefer it over TB

Yup, Rays are just a drag.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Yup, Rays are just a drag.

Rays in a diff market with even 20k fans a game would make the team AT LEAST several million dollars more per season(and even then,20k is still a number you should only expect for teams with bad seasons like Jays and Os). I'm sure TV deals, merchandise sales and more traveling fans would definitely bring in lots more money too.

All while not hurting the Florida baseball market because Rays fans could become Marlins fans.

[NYJets]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Serious question..

Why is Montreal a good spot for a team after what happened the first time around? A new stadium will make all the difference?

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If the mayor doesn't want the team moving anywhere, what if MLB finds some loophole. Expand to a new city, and once the TB lease is up, fold the Rays.

Serious question..



Why is Montreal a good spot for a team after what happened the first time around? A new stadium will make all the difference?

It's way more than that. They'd have much better owners, an actual baseball stadium, and national(throughout Canada) TV and radio deals.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If the mayor doesn't want the team moving anywhere, what if MLB finds some loophole. Expand to a new city, and once the TB lease is up, fold the Rays.

I don't really know the rules of contraction. Do they really have to wait until the lease is up to contract a team?

To me, the easiest thing to do would be to announce a contraction of the Rays and an expansion of a new team (wherever) that occur concurrently to keep an even amount of teams.

Your proposal isn't realistic because not only would they have to add two more teams, they would have to be committed to contracting another team in addition to the Ray's when that time comes.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't really know the rules of contraction. Do they really have to wait until the lease is up to contract a team?



To me, the easiest thing to do would be to announce a contraction of the Rays and an expansion of a new team (wherever) that occur concurrently to keep an even amount of teams.



Your proposal isn't realistic because not only would they have to add two more teams, they would have to be committed to contracting another team in addition to the Ray's when that time comes.

Not if they got other cities in mind for expansion.

Montreal replaces Tampa for 30, now you have 2 cities who could get expansion around 2030.

Or just stick with 30, but take 31 for a few seasons until that 2027 lease is up.

Montreal even if they get the Rays for half a year, it won't happen for a few years.


But interesting part in all this, Manfred himself commented on camera and confirmed the report.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Not if they got other cities in mind for expansion.

Montreal replaces Tampa for 30, now you have 2 cities who could get expansion around 2030.

Or just stick with 30, but take 31 for a few seasons until that 2027 lease is up.

Montreal even if they get the Rays for half a year, it won't happen for a few years.


But interesting part in all this, Manfred himself commented on camera and confirmed the report.

You can't schedule an MLB season with an odd number of teams.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Was fun while it lasted:

More
#Rays plan for Montreal already appears near death. St Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman says he told team he would not grant permission for talks with Montreal. Rays have use agreement with St Pete until 2027.

Did anyone really expect anything different?

Until the Rays and city of St.Pete reach an agreement to terminate the lease, or the lease runs its course, the Rays will be playing in Tropicana Field and will be in Tampa.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That was one of the dumbest ideas I've ever read in my life anyway.

[fugazi]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I think baseball should consider some "radical"things...

For example, a series or two every year for each team in a nearby minor league park...granted, this would've worked better when a club's AAA squad was generally rather close to the parent club...

I tink attendance would be maxed for those games, add then some...