TB-Montreal Rays ?

[TonySoprano]

Quote

The Tampa Bay Rays received permission from Major League Baseball's executive council to explore a plan in which they would play early-season home games in the Tampa Bay area and the remainder of the year in Montreal, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.

Quote

Under the plan, the Rays would play in new stadiums in both the Tampa Bay area and Montreal, according to sources. 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. A month ago, Bronfman -- who along with Montreal businessman Mitch Garber has expressed interest in taking a minority stake in the Rays alongside owner Stuart Sternberg -- reached an agreement with a developer on a site in Montreal's Point-Saint-Charles neighborhood to potentially build a new stadium. The number of home games each city would receive has not been determined, according to sources.

 

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

[Going Underground]

8 minutes ago, TonySoprano said:

 

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

Orioles-Raliegh Durham would also be great. Maybe Oakland-Vegas split. Miami--San Juan. Kansas City-Mexico City. Cleveland-Portland. Pittsburgh-Nashville.

[Can_of_corn]

No way the MLBPA signs off on this right?

Would be a nightmare for players.

[Aglets]

10 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

No way the MLBPA signs off on this right?

Would be a nightmare for players.

I'm not sure.   

Would it allow the Rays to have a team payroll over $60M?

Money tends to talk.

[TINSTAAPP]

7 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

No way the MLBPA signs off on this right?

Would be a nightmare for players.

The Expos played 22 games a year in Puerto Rico during the last two years of their existence and the MLBPA was stronger back then than it is now. 

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, TINSTAAPP said:

The Expos played 22 games a year in Puerto Rico during the last two years of their existence and the MLBPA was stronger back then than it is now. 

Neither team is building a new stadium for 22 games.

[MurphDogg]

How are two cities going to get two stadiums funded for less than a full season's worth of games? It doesn't make sense.

 

 

[Anonsnides]

This is the Rays wanting one foot in both camps, and if it happens then they're just gonna end up moving to Montreal full time in the few years that follow.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

22 minutes ago, Anonsnides said:

This is the Rays wanting one foot in both camps, and if it happens then they're just gonna end up moving to Montreal full time in the few years that follow.

It's a foot in the door to getting a new stadium secured in Montreal and then relocation. No way a split arrangement last between Tampa and Montreal. Logistics, tv contracts, etc. gets much more complicated with a dual city home.

[TonySoprano]

 

[OFFNY]

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[Can_of_corn]

I overheard a guy earlier saying they would call the team the Montreal X-Rays.

[OFFNY]

o

 

The Ex-Rays ........ you can see right through them.

 

 

 

o

[InsideCoroner]

If Orioles attendance keeps trending down, maybe the team could play half their home games next year at Leidos Field / Ripken Stadium.

[SteveA]

The Rays have not given up on this dream, and in fact will be pursuing it with advertising signage at Tropicana Field during the postseason.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/rays-still-pursuing-two-city-plan-with-montreal-will-promote-idea-at-tropicana-field-during-mlb-playoffs/