To expand, MLB would need two markets that wouldn't drain revenue-sharing, and even if you think a national Canadian TV deal is a given and Montreal would pull it's own weight...we're a long way from having a second market like that. And of course, the Rays are contractually bound to Tampa Bay for the next 12 years. So MLB-in-Montreal is quite unlikely in the next decade.
Nevertheless, we're seeing lots of news this week for those who just can't get enough of the speculation:
- Jon Paul Morosi penned a predictable - but fair - column about Montreal's baseball future, but he says all the important questions the city must address are pressing issues because in the next two years, "the Rays should know whether they're staying or leaving Tampa Bay." I'm not sure I agree, for as I wrote last year (in much more depth), "because of the legal issues, there's no chance the Rays leave Florida in the next five, six, seven, or eight years. Maybe longer."
- Great "5 questions regarding MLB's return to Montreal" piece in the Toronto Star, including "MLB is using Montreal’s interest to try and leverage concessions for the Tampa Bay Rays out of three levels of local government in Florida. And only when the Rays stadium issue is resolved will there be any talk of expansion."
- The Tampa Bay Times' annual Opening Day editorial focused on ways Commissioner Rob Manfred could/should keep MLB in Tampa Bay, including: acknowledging the region's commitment to working together (even though they aren't right now on the Stadium Saga); acknowledging the high TV ratings & interest; and by paying for much of it himself. The paper also echoed this blog's call for more revenue sharing since the league could not be more flush with cash.
- The Tampa Bay Baseball Market blog has a great interview with new Rays Chief Business Officer, Jeff Cogen, who shares inside info on how the team is addressing some of the "attendance struggles", including ideas on converting TV-watchers to ticket-buyers.
- Gary Shelton points out Miami fans continue to get hosed by a crappy Marlins team. Oh, and the team's been unable to sell naming rights to their new cathedral for $5M/year.
- And finally, let's look back at this 2004 Washington Post story from Steve Fainaru, which offers evidence of why "private investors" aren't going to fund a half-billion dollar stadium in Montreal. Bud Selig, on whether a stadium's revenues can outpace revenues: "Can a ballclub build a stadium and survive? No."
FOLLOW: Shadow of the Stadium on Twitter
FOLLOW: Shadow of the Stadium on Facebook
"And of course, the Rays are contractually bound to Tampa Bay for the next 12 years. So MLB-in-Montreal is quite unlikely in the next decade.
ReplyDelete"
And of course your pathetic blindness and ignorance of Montreal comes shining thru unknow-it-all-Noah!
Why do you assume that Montreal's only chance of a team rest with your pathetic Rays moving? If you bother to research than just repeat the words in other people's blogs you'd see that expansion may be as far as 5 years away... and that is the most likely route for Montreal and another US city. Odds are the Rays would be relocated to Cuba than play in Fla.
Baseless claims hide behind anonymous posters.
DeleteAnd how is that baseless? Baseless is the Rays getting a new stadium. Baseless is assuming Montreal's only hope is the Rays. What is dependent is the Rays either getting a stadium and staying or deciding to leave.
DeleteHey, don't blame Noah, "blame it on the Canadians!"...
Delete(assuming your talking about the attendance because they have the 3rd best record in MLB over the less 1/2 decade)
Delete... if the Rays are "pathetic", then what is the Expos that drew THOUSANDS less in attendance year after year???
"Apologies to my Canadian friends (you guys still have the world's best anthem)"
ReplyDeleteAnd we have the best leader... good luck with Drumpf or Scarily
... and Cruz (the Canadian)! lol
DeleteThe people from the country of Montreal can't be reasoned with Noah. "There are none so blind as those who refuse to see." MLB won't be calling Montreal home. It's small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. "MAUVAIS QUART D’HEURE"
ReplyDeleteUgh, let's try and leave politics out of this. Trudeau only gets the "best leader" moniker if he helps bring the Expos back.
ReplyDeleteAs per the second article, I enjoy that Griffin talks about North America, but totally glosses over the very recent successful Mexico games, and Manfred's obvious interest in expansion there. Las Vegas won't become a legitimate option unless the NHL team is a huge win and the 51's ever draw more than 3000. San Antonio is more concerned with building a AAA ballpark for the Sky Sox, not overlooking that their spring exhibitions do not sell out the Alamo Dome. Charlotte has no way to expand their new AAA ballpark, and chief planners in the city say they're 20 years away from even talking about it. Portland is a wild card, but is questionable as if they could support a second team, same with Vancouver. Not listed, but Cuba could get a team, assuming the average monthly salaries rise about $20 USD. Hard to keep a straight face when they come up.
Back to the Rays though, I'm interested in seeing the fruit of Jeff Cogen's labor. I still don't believe the reasons given why fans don't show up, so hopefully his changes will make a positive impact.
The new stadium will be built on the outskirts of Ybor in Tampa. It's a done deal. You can take that to the bank!
ReplyDeleteThat easy to get to place, the outskirts.... of hell more like it
DeleteOne thing looks certain-the Rays are done with Pinellas!
DeleteDon't believe it...there hasn't been anything that's deviated from the script yet...
Deletehttp://archive.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=108842
Haven't the Rays indicated that when Sternberg said back in 2010 that baseball "Has not and will not work in downtown St, Pete",and showing no interest in the Carrilon site?
DeleteNot exactly - he said he wouldn't consider the Carillon site until he could also consider Tampa sites.
DeleteThe Marlins played an exhibition game in Greensboro, NC and Jacksonville Florida. I guess that Greensboro and Jacksonville will bet getting a team. The're gonna follow Montreal's lead! Lol...Baltimore played an exhibition in Charlotte, NC. I guess Charlotte will be getting a team. Apparently, if you play an exhibition game in a city, the attendance is impressive, that means that city will get an MLB team. Oh, almost forgot. The St. Louis Cardinals play a regular exhibition in Memphis, I guess Memphis will be getting a team just like the country of Montreal. Lol....
ReplyDelete"Les sceptiques seront CON-FON-DUS, DU-DU-DU!" - Capitaine Bonhomme
DeleteYes, the mighty and lucrative Greensboro and Jacksonville markets. I'd love to know how many folks turned out for those games. Probably enough to put in a bid for expansion, right? I bet MLB is licking their chops to penetrate the 46th biggest market in the country.
DeleteIf you are going to spend this much time on this site, at least try to troll effectively. Or better yet, try showing up to games at the Trop.
The point, diminutive mental specimen, is that just because an exhibition game was played in Montreal does not mean that will translate into the country of Montreal getting a team, regardless of attendance. Yes, the mighty and lucrative Montreal market that couldn't support the Expos. They give free tickets away to the exhibition games to make the "crowd" seem larger. T'as une tête a faire sauter les plaques d'egou. If your are going to spend this much time on this site you need to stop spewing hyperbole.
Delete"They give free tickets away to the exhibition games to make the "crowd" seem larger. T'as une tête a faire sauter les plaques d'egou.They give free tickets away to the exhibition games to make the "crowd" seem larger. T'as une tête a faire sauter les plaques d'egos."
DeleteDear Anonymous, you need help. Please, get in touch with your doctor or a psychologist.
P.S. Hope we're not chatting with a Rays fans, otherwise, it will explain a lot of things.
Free tickets? Good lord dude, now you're reaching. If event promoters have to give away free tickets, they don't come back three years in a row. They cut their losses and move on. Also, when did Montreal and Quebec become countries?
DeleteDoubt we're speaking with a Rays fan though, Pat, as our anonymous insider only shows up when Montreal is brought up. I do enjoy the attempts at insults though. Always the calling card of a clever debater.
@Anonymous: iCal’ed for abject idiocy in preparation for guaranteed future ridicule.
DeleteSo, Opening Day, done. Obligatory, MLB comment of "we support Stu's efforts in the Tampa area to build a stadium", done... Rays sell out of the year, done. Rays lose game, only the beginning.
ReplyDeleteManfred went out of his way to say that no expansion until A's and Rays stadium issues are resolved. Went so far to say that relocation is possible only after Rays exhaust their search for a stadium. Other owners are not so patient..... Hmmm I've heard this all before. Then the movers arrived.
Curious how may Rays fans from here attended the home opener or will have tickets for up coming games?
Rays fan here. I attended the game. It was a great time. Well, yes, the movers arrived for the Expos, but this is a completely different scenario. There haven't been many scenarios from a relocation standpoint in many years other than Expos. From what I understand, there are plans and a financing plan for a new stadium in Tampa.
ReplyDeleteIn Montreal, we can't wait to see the situation fixed and resolved in TB and in Oakland. No ones hope that the process will fail.
DeleteSo earring that Sternberg is committed, that there are real options on the table and the appropriated funding for all parties involved is a positive sign.
We hope that by January 2018, when the Rays will issue publicly their letter of intent, we can seriously talk about expansion with a clear timeline.
With Stephen Bronfman and Mitch Garber (as well as Bell Media and many others like Éric Gagné, Pedro Martinez, Marquis Grissom, Tim Raines, ... that want to invest into the team and the stadium in Montreal) confirming their interest and that money will be there without any doubts, the project is well structured and important announcement are expected in 2016.
Stay Tuned!
When you consider the Tampa Bay and Orlando area, you come to the conclusion that it is quite a large t.v. "swath,. It's absolutely huge. Orlando and the Tampa Bay market (plus areas north, south, east and west of the market) are going to continue to grow exponentially. Long term potential is probably the main facet when MLB weighs all options.
ReplyDelete