The Rays knew they were in turmoil last year when they had to cut their payroll to $35 Million -- the second lowest payroll in Major League Baseball. Fans weren't (and still aren't) coming to the games; this, obviously, means a huge budget cut.
It's not merchandise, or TV ratings that have taken a hit. It's ticket sales, and why? Well, it is because of the location in St.Petersburg across the bridge. It takes about thirty minutes, without traffic, to drive to Tropicana Field for Tampa residents. On top of what your going to pay on a trip of gas, your going to pay a fair price for tickets, plus an unreal amount for concessions.
This just isn't going to work if the economy is in the slump it's in right now. Along with that, there are an abundance of things that people would rather do than go to a ball game, on a Friday evening, at the Trop.
Many want the stadium to move to Tampa, and forget about Tropicana Field. But two things are stopping them. One: Bill Foster, mayor of St.Pete, says they aren't going anywhere but St.Pete. Two: Former owner, Vince Naimoli, signed a lease to keep the Rays in Tropicana Field until 2027. Yes, 2027.
Although the Rays owner Stuart Sternberg is looking for a home in Tampa for the Rays, Foster continues to say,"The Rays aren't going to Tampa or Hillsborough County." This is what we need to keep the Rays in the Tampa Bay area, not.
It isn't Vince Naimoli's fault that he signed the contract. Little did he know stadium location would become a problem, along with the already outdated stadium.
If the Rays want to stay in the area, these two sides have to meet in the middle. Attendance rates aren't going up, nor will they no mater how good the Rays get.
St.Pete has to give up on their hopes of the Rays staying there and let them move across Howard Franklin Bridge and take a shot on the Rays staying. If Sternberg gets tired of Foster, then residents will be saddened to find that the team will be moving out of town into somewhere like Nashville, or Las Vegas.
If the Rays do move to Tampa, which would take approval from the tax payers (who would be paying for most of the stadium), then sales will most-likely rise. But look at the Buccaneers franchise who also are in Tampa. They didn't sell out a single game last year, and many of their games were blacked out.
It would be a huge chance, but the Rays need this move, and they need it soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment