Rays to Explore Splitting Games with Montreal

[Ohiogal]

The Tampa Bay Rays have 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, commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday.

While the plan is in its nascent stages, the Rays have embraced the two-city solution as the most feasible to saving baseball in the Tampa Bay area after years of failed attempts to build a new stadium in the region, sources said.

Under the plan, the Rays would play in new stadiums in both the Tampa Bay area and Montreal, sources said. The number of home games each city would receive has not been determined, sources said.

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.

More:

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

[shenmue]

1. I live near Tampa. Hate to see them go.

[jayschool2013]

2. Anybody remember the Kansas City-Omaha Kings?

I do.

They played about 15 of the 41 home games every year in Omaha during the early '70s and gradually reduced that number until Sacramento stole the team.

Only a three-hour drive from KC to the Big O, though.

[world wide wally]

3. Will they change the team name to the Twins, or maybe the Cousins?

[NightWatcher]

4. It's a twofer for MLB. A leverage move for TB to get a better stadium and a promise to Montreal

that they'll either get the Rays in 2026 or the next expansion team.

There's no way they could split it up and the MLBPA (players union) would never approve either.

[Gore1FL]

5. Now that MLB is playing regular season games all over the place...

...I guess anywhere is home, now.

[R o n i n]

6. 2028, an Idea

probable: Marlins are gone before 2028... leaving a great stadium empty
probable: Rays are gone 2028 due to cost and no location to put a new stadium

Idea: share team between Montreal and Hollywood/Miami, FL. Huge population of Canadian french down there in spring/early summer and fall, they would fill the 20 or so games in the early season making it possible for Montreal to build a cheaper outdoor stadium with more ambiance downtown. And many french speaking Canadians have vacation homes down here or time shares...

Of course, use the Marlins park in SoFla. It is awesome, SoFloridians just have too much to do in Mid Summer to get a loyal fan base...
The owner/Billionaire's already stole our tax money to build it, may as well let someone use it...

SoFla needs a gimmick to get a loyal fan base.
A fanatic fan base from Canada/Hollywood FL may create the momentum needed to fill the Miami stadium...
a great gimmick. Think it would work??

Oh, and some games in late fall and playoffs in Hollywood/Miami too depending on weather. Great for hotel, airlines, tourism businesses and maximizes television audience...

Not sure if St. Pete can compete with that gimmick or get a new stadium on it's own...

[marble falls]

7. Brilliant! It could actully work ...

Their joint war chests might be able to buy better players. Drawing a better market. It could work.