Tropicana Field

Stadium was never gonna happen in Tampa with the amount of public money requested specifically after the Bucs stadium. For those unaware Raymond James Stadium (or CITS (Community Investment Tax Stadium) according to legendary former Tampa sportscaster Chris Thomas), was 100% taxpayer funded. The city simply wasn't gonna pay for another stadium especially at the multi-billion price tag. I completely understand the need for a retractable roof but Sternberg put it all on the city, he's viewed as a carpetbagger here. Next year in Tampa at the Yankees spring training stadium will be interesting, good luck when it rains virtually every summer day in the late afternoon.

 

My guess is they'll do almost all night games July, August and September. Keep people from being roasted in the sands and start games around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., after the later afternoon thunderstorms are done.

 

Long post incoming and I'll preface by saying that I know most Rays fans won't want to hear this. I know most will hate the idea of leaving the Tamp Bay Area, I totally get it. And it honestly does come off as insult to injury after Hurricane Milton. But what about the Orlando group pushing to get MLB in Orlando? It's always felt like a dream, but after the developments post-Milton with the Rays, could the Rays moving to Orlando actually have a chance?

Even before Hurricane Milton, a new stadium in St. Pete was still going to have the same location problem that the Trop has. Heck it's hard for Rays fans even from Tampa to go to weeknight games, never mind fans from areas farther away. I live south of Orlando, not far from Disney, and I enjoy going to MLB games, but it's just too difficult to get to St. Pete. Here's why Orlando could work:
_____

1) Fresh Start.
Unlike St. Pete that has always held the stadium agreement around the Rays neck, the Orlando group pushing for MLB and the entire Orlando area would probably come together to support getting the Rays. And I know Stu is not a good owner by any means, but St. Pete has really messed this up and probably made the relationship between the Rays and St. Pete untenable. With Orlando, my guess would be the stadium would be paid for by a combination of the group pushing for MLB, the city/county via tourist taxes (including probably a creation of a special development district like with other sports teams) and then some from the Rays. I know Stu is notorious for not wanting to pay anything. I think if the city / group gets Stu to pay for even a little bit (20%), the city / group would largely pay for the rest. Heck even if it required some sort of half cent sales tax increase in addition to the tourist taxes, most would probably be okay with it.

2) Stadium Plans
Orlando could learn from some of the previous mistakes with the Rays. Orlando is set up to be more centralized in general and the current group has already indicated the stadium would be in a centralized location in Orlando. Plans have been that a stadium would be on I-Drive right near the Convention Center, SeaWorld and the new Universal Epic Universe theme park. Yes the traffic would royally s*ck, it already does, but it would still be a great location. Plenty of hotels and things to do before or after the game. 528 was recently expanded to 8 lanes so that would help. An MLB team would probably speed up some of the I-4 construction. Plus with the space they could even have a small entertainment district, similar to what the Braves have with The Battery.

3) Infrastructure
Similar to I-4, an MLB team in Orlando would most likely get the Brightline and SunRail expansions going. SunRail would probably expand East - West to go from the airport to the Orange Avenue Station to a new Convention Center Station. This would let people take SunRail instead of having to fight traffic and then find parking. Brightline would also probably expedite the Orlando - Tampa line. Heck if would let Rays fans in Tampa go to some games without having to drive on I-4.

4) Media Market
Orlando, as the 15th biggest media market, is the biggest market in the U.S. that does not have an MLB team. I know Tampa is 12th and would then be the largest, but that would be addressed in my final point below and the biggest point for current fans.

5) Going to Orlando keeps the Rays in Central Florida
While it would be hard, just remember that many in Orlando support the Bucs and Lightning and make the trip over to Tampa regularly for games. Being in Orlando would allow Rays fans to still at least somewhat have a team and Rays fans could still come to Orlando for games. Heck for the Rays fans who live in places like Brandon, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, Lakeland and Plant City, going to Orlando won't be any worse than going to St. Pete. Heck it could even be a little closer for Rays fans in Polk County and far eastern Hillsborough County.

You would have a certain synergy between the two cities at that point that you don't have now. People in Tampa / St. Pete / Clearwater could support the Rays and Magic in Orlando and people in Orlando / Daytona Beach / Sanford / Kissimmee could support the Bucs and Lightning in Tampa. Honestly it helps for all the teams to have a regional fan base. Since a lot of people in both Orlando and Tampa are transplants, many follow the team they grew up with. So being able to pull support from both Orlando and Tampa would greatly help with long term success and fan support.

Plus at the end of the day, the Rays going to Orlando would be a whole heck of a lot better than losing them to Nashville, Charlotte or Montreal.
_____

Like I said, it's not a good situation, but it could be an opportunity for Orlando. I hate that it would be at Tampa Bay's expense, but it's probably the only way Orlando could get an MLB team and it would at least keep the team in the area. I would hate to see MLB baseball leave Central Florida period. The Rays could play either at a renovated Disney Wide World of Sports Complex (where the Atlanta Braves used to do Spring Training until 2019) or a renovated Osceola County Stadium (where the Houston Astros used to do their Spring Training) until the new stadium is built. The Disney complex would be more centrally located (since it's off I-4) and being southwest of Orlando would make it at least closer to Tampa Bay for current fans as well.

Heck Orlando could even make some compromises. While I would like to name of the team to actually be Orlando, I could see them changing to name simply to Florida (for example if they keep the Rays name, potentially the Florida Rays instead of the Orlando Rays), as a way to keep some of the current fans. I could also see Orlando being okay with the team still playing a series or two each year in Tampa at the Yankees Spring Training Complex, again, to keep some of the current fans. But Orlando would probably be the best option at this point.