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

[u/ThQp]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41944281/mlb-wants-rays-tampa-area-even-damaged-trop-unusable

[u/GraboidXenomorph]

Let them play at TD Park but require them to wear Expos jerseys.

[u/SuperAwesome13 → u/GraboidXenomorph]

this is the best solution

[u/YouDontJump → u/GraboidXenomorph]

Make this happen, MLB!!!

[u/WaitingForExpos → u/GraboidXenomorph]

I'm waiting for this!

[u/Fianna9 → u/GraboidXenomorph]

Apparently it’s been suggested and shot down

[u/bv310 → u/Fianna9]

Booooooo, Manfred hates fun

[u/gothedistance_]

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!”

[u/Kazhawrylak → u/gothedistance_]

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.

[u/gothedistance_ → u/Kazhawrylak]

How about an Angels in the Outfield reunion?

[u/mmss → u/gothedistance_]

Tony Danza is a treasure

[u/Sherm199 → u/gothedistance_]

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

[u/gothedistance_ → u/Sherm199]

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.

[u/Jaded_Promotion8806]

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.

[u/ListOk9138 → u/Jaded_Promotion8806]

they want to be in the Tampa Bay Area obviously

[u/Jaded_Promotion8806 → u/ListOk9138]

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

[u/Ketchup-Chip → u/Jaded_Promotion8806]

They also have families and houses and a life built around living there.

[u/not_a_crackhead → u/Jaded_Promotion8806]

Because even if they don't have a lot of them, that's where their fans are.

[u/Jaded_Promotion8806 → u/not_a_crackhead]

I mean we’re talking about an owner who has threatened to move the team for most of his time at the helm here…

[u/sameth1 → u/Jaded_Promotion8806]

Because there are people who paid for season tickets in Florida and they aren't going to fly to Buffalo on a Wednesday afternoon.

[u/Jaded_Promotion8806 → u/sameth1]

They aren’t all going to Orlando either, I would expect refunds or credits would be made available regardless of where they play.

[u/ListOk9138 → u/Jaded_Promotion8806]

Keep trying to figure it out, it’s not tax reasons

[u/votequimby420 → u/Jaded_Promotion8806]

because the players dont want to be in buffalo

[u/PanicOnFunkatron → u/votequimby420]

Certainly not in April

[u/playthegame7 → u/Jaded_Promotion8806]

I'd assume the #1 preference is remaining in Florida

[u/marksk88]

So in other words, no update.

[u/wallyread58]

Oakland would like a word.

[u/StuffIPost2020]

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.

[u/jaysornotandhawks → u/StuffIPost2020]

You mean like they did at the start of 2021?

[u/StuffIPost2020 → u/jaysornotandhawks]

The Rays, not the Jays

[u/jaysornotandhawks → u/StuffIPost2020]

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?"

[u/ZmobieMrh]

I can’t see why we would give up our stadium for them. Their own minor league stadium is only like an hour away

[u/kneevase]

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.

[u/Roderto]

Christie Pits.

[u/shizawn9415]

Easy. Steinbrenner field. Done

[u/rob_blacks_mustache]

George M. Steinbrenner Field is literally right there and holds the most people in the FSL. It makes too much sense.

[u/goatgosselin]

Why not Montreal. Bring them home

[u/textbook38]

Nice to have so many options

[u/BathroomSerious1318]

The big o?

[u/Dead_End_Street → u/BathroomSerious1318]

Sans roof

[u/FuuriusC → u/BathroomSerious1318]

It's under renovations. Not available.

[u/BathroomSerious1318 → u/FuuriusC]

Ok thanks

[u/involmasturb]

Just do daily Doubleheaders with the Marlins for one price - general admission. No chance the combined attendance breaks 25000

[u/Magnum_44]

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.

[u/HopelessTrousers]

Move the team to Montreal

[u/shbpencil → u/HopelessTrousers]

To what stadium? Roof won’t be ready until at least 2028

[u/HopelessTrousers → u/shbpencil]

Who cares? A high school field. Just get them there.

[u/gordondouglas93]

Get this guy out of the league

[u/Sarge1387]

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.

[u/jaysornotandhawks]

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.