Montreal Rays?

[Nine of twelve]

http://www.startribune.com/the-ex-rays-tampa-bay-gets-ok-from-mlb-to-explore-montreal/511580082/

This piece with an AP byline was posted on the Strib website today. Maybe it's not significant, but then again maybe it is. If I were an owner choosing between Montreal and Tampa/St. Pete for a location for an MLB franchise I'd choose Montreal for sure.

[wsnydes]

I love the logic of this. They can't get one ballpark built, so instead they're going to try to get TWO built by two different cities that have the extra enticement of GETTING to share the ball club! What a deal!  

[luckylager]

I'm sure the Rays players would just love splitting their season between two home ballparks (in two different countries).

[twinsfanstreif]

I put this at a 1% chance of actually happening. More than likely they will look into the possibility and find out it's unrealistic (big surprise!) And then push to move full time to Montreal as there has been significant interest in moving the team there. In fact, a Montreal group has expressed interest in buying stake in the Rays and even found a site for the stadium. Interesting stuff happening. Realistically they Rays should've moved years ago

[Vanimal46]

This is so dumb. Just move out of Tampa entirely, it's been long overdue.

[Riverbrian]

I'd actually love to see it but don't know how it's possible.

 

I'm not a lawyer but the lease states "all home games" at Tropicana through 2027. The city of St. Petersburg would have to approve and I'm not sure what advantage could be gained by signing off on the concept. 

 

This whole thing reminds me of our Twins contraction news cycle from years past mixed with a dose of the owner of the Cleveland Indians in the movie "Major League" trying to blow it all up in order to move the team to Florida. 

 

Someone needs to point out to Rays owner Stu Sternberg that neither ploy worked... although admittedly the "Major League" ploy didn't work because of the script writers. 

 

 

[nater79a]

So...will the team be known as the Ex-Rays?   

 

(I'll show myself out...)

 

 

[notoriousgod71]

 

I'd actually love to see it but don't know how it's possible.

 

I'm not a lawyer but the lease states "all home games" at Tropicana through 2027. The city of St. Petersburg would have to approve and I'm not sure what advantage could be gained by signing off on the concept. 

 

This whole thing reminds me of our Twins contraction news cycle from years past mixed with a dose of the owner of the Cleveland Indians in the movie "Major League" trying to blow it all up in order to move the team to Florida. 

 

Someone needs to point out to Rays owner Stu Sternberg that neither ploy worked... although admittedly the "Major League" ploy didn't work because of the script writers. 

 

I'm guessing most teams don't have that verbiage then since games are played in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Omaha, Cooperstown, Japan all the time?

[twinsfanstreif]

This whole thing reminds me of our Twins contraction news cycle from years past mixed with a dose of the owner of the Cleveland Indians in the movie "Major League" trying to blow it all up in order to move the team to Florida.

 

Ironically isn't the Major League thing the same thing the owner of the Expos used to get out of Montreal? If I remember correctly he basically tanked the local TV deals resulting in blacked out games to squash interest in the team while at the same time trading guys for nothing and refusing to offer salary arbitration to anyone. So I guess it did work IRL!

[darin617]

Montreal would outdraw Tampa's 40 game attendance in about 7 games if not less. Just get them out of Tampa for good.

[Riverbrian]

 

I'm guessing most teams don't have that verbiage then since games are played in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Omaha, Cooperstown, Japan all the time?

 

I'm not an expert on the stadium contracts but I'd imagine that there is a form of compensation on those rare occasions. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Ironically isn't the Major League thing the same thing the owner of the Expos used to get out of Montreal? If I remember correctly he basically tanked the local TV deals resulting in blacked out games to squash interest in the team while at the same time trading guys for nothing and refusing to offer salary arbitration to anyone. So I guess it did work IRL!

 

Frank Robinson is no Lou Brown apparently. 

 

(RIP to both)

[Nine of twelve]

Montreal was much more of a baseball city than Toronto in the middle of the 20th Century. Most people are aware that the Montreal Royals were the long-time AAA franchise for the Dodgers, and that's where Jackie Robinson played his only minor league baseball. MLB mismanaged the situation with the Expos during the 1990's and early 2000's, leading to their departure. My guess is that Montreal would be a successful franchise, especially if they are in the same division as the Blue Jays. I don't know how MLB and the current ownership in Tampa could get out of the contract there but despite it being a loss for Tampa/St. Pete I think it would be a net gain for baseball in North America to get a team in Montreal.

[BD57]

Tropicana is a horrible ballpark in a worse location.  Being in St. Pete adds an hour-to-hour-and-a-half of driving for a lot of people to attend (I've made it a point to go to a Twins game the past few years).

 

They need a ballpark on the "Tampa" side of the Bay, closer to where the people are.   Build something more modern and more centrally located / easier to get to & they'd draw better.

 

Their front office is putting decent teams on the field more often than not; they just got stuck in that dump and they've never been able to get a new park built.

 

OH YEAH ... TO THE POINT ...

 

This "split between Tampa & Montreal" business is nuts.

[twinsfanstreif]

I don't know how MLB and the current ownership in Tampa could get out of the contract there

A mysterious fire could start......just saying

[ashbury]

A mysterious fire could start......just saying

"That's a nice young second baseman you've got. Name of Lowe, right? Be a shame if someone was to set fire to him. Fires happen. Fings burn."

 

[Vanimal46]