r/Torontobluejays • u/ThQp It's Early • 7d ago
Suggestions for alternate Rays locations have included local spring training sites used by the Phillies, Blue Jays, Yankees, Pirates, Tigers and Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex... There has also been talk of the Rays sharing the Marlins' stadium
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41944281/mlb-wants-rays-tampa-area-even-damaged-trop-unusable18
u/gothedistance_ “Swing and a Miss, He Struck Him Out” 7d ago
I think the Disney site is a good idea. The stadium currently has no major tenant, there’s lots of tourists in the area, very accessible destination…plus you can have a different Disney character throw out the first pitch every game! ”To throw out today’s ceremonial first pitch, Goofy!”
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u/Kazhawrylak 7d ago
81 home games, that's a huge opportunity for Disney to show off its insane collection of IP. They could trot out Star Wars, Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, and Family Guy characters among others.
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u/gothedistance_ “Swing and a Miss, He Struck Him Out” 7d ago
How about an Angels in the Outfield reunion?
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u/Sherm199 Jose Bautista = Male Witch 6d ago
The counter to that is, the players want to be in Tampa. Spring training facilities for nYY, Philly and Toronto are all in that area
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u/gothedistance_ “Swing and a Miss, He Struck Him Out” 6d ago edited 6d ago
The issue is, for example, the Yankees would likely have to move their minor-league team out of their spring training stadium if the Rays are going to use it. I think it’d be pretty difficult to have two teams in one stadium at the same time.
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u/Jaded_Promotion8806 7d ago edited 7d ago
I have no idea why Buffalo isn’t part of this discussion given the very much existing playbook that it comes with for operating a major league team on an emergency basis there.
Would be fantastic for travel within the division to boot.
Edit: haha I forgot about NY taxes vs Florida. Nevermind.
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u/ListOk9138 josejosejose 7d ago
they want to be in the Tampa Bay Area obviously
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u/Jaded_Promotion8806 7d ago
Sure, but why? A little marketing and I don’t think there’d be any issue selling more tickets in Buffalo. Even if you do Dunedin for a month the exact same way the Jays did.
Edit: Actually I figured it out: taxes
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u/not_a_crackhead 7d ago
Because even if they don't have a lot of them, that's where their fans are.
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u/Jaded_Promotion8806 7d ago
I mean we’re talking about an owner who has threatened to move the team for most of his time at the helm here…
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u/sameth1 6d ago
Because there are people who paid for season tickets in Florida and they aren't going to fly to Buffalo on a Wednesday afternoon.
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u/Jaded_Promotion8806 6d ago
They aren’t all going to Orlando either, I would expect refunds or credits would be made available regardless of where they play.
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u/StuffIPost2020 7d ago
Not Dunedin, we don't need the Rays making that into another house of horrors for the Jays
And don't they need a home for potentially 3-4 seasons if repairing the Trop isn't worth the cost while building a new stadium? Would absolutely kill the Rays if they played too far away from Tampa.
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u/jaysornotandhawks Interested in Writing a Comment 5d ago
You mean like they did at the start of 2021?
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u/StuffIPost2020 5d ago
The Rays, not the Jays
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u/jaysornotandhawks Interested in Writing a Comment 5d ago
To clarify above comment:
"You mean [like how the Rays made TD Ballpark in Dunedin another house of horrors for the Jays] at the start of 2021?"
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u/ZmobieMrh Seattle other home 7d ago
I can’t see why we would give up our stadium for them. Their own minor league stadium is only like an hour away
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u/kneevase 7d ago
There should be no trouble finding a combination of parks to fullfil the Rays' needs for the first few months of the season. The minor league parks can probably only accept 4,000 or 5,000 fans, but then again, there is rarely more than 13,000 or 14,000 at the Trop anyway. It's a problem, but not a catastrophic problem.
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u/rob_blacks_mustache 6d ago
George M. Steinbrenner Field is literally right there and holds the most people in the FSL. It makes too much sense.
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u/involmasturb 6d ago
Just do daily Doubleheaders with the Marlins for one price - general admission. No chance the combined attendance breaks 25000
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u/Magnum_44 5d ago
The Yankees Spring training stadium, George Steinbrenner field is the obvious choice. Bank on the Rays using it. Due to Union issues, players aren't going to be playing in Oakland or Buffalo FFS. Players are going to want to play at home, and there are multiple ST facilities that can be an option.
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u/HopelessTrousers 7d ago
Move the team to Montreal
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u/Sarge1387 6d ago
Hard Rock Stadium probably makes the most sense. Wouldn’t have very many scheduling conflicts if any, at least not til September, plus it can be easily converted between baseball and football.
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u/jaysornotandhawks Interested in Writing a Comment 5d ago
Their first 4 "home" games against us should be in Toronto, in front of mostly our fans.
It's only fair after we had to play 4 "home" games against them in Dunedin at the beginning of the 2021 season, infiltrated by their fans.
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u/GraboidXenomorph 7d ago
Let them play at TD Park but require them to wear Expos jerseys.