Tampontreal Exprays?

backstop13

Behind Enemy Lines
Lifetime Member
Sep 7, 2014
365
955
Oh nice, let's move to a city for half of the year that couldn't support a team. I hope this is just the front office trying to strong arm a solution with the big wigs in Tampa/St.Pete
 

Gatorbait25

Founding Member
H.E. Pennypacker, wealthy American industrialist
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
3,537
5,323
Founding Member
The old expos hat is one of my favorites in all of sports. It's an instant classic right up
there with the ball and mitt brewers logo, the old dolphins logo and the skating penguin .
 

T REX

Founding Member
Well-Known Member
Jun 24, 2014
10,107
7,389
Founding Member
How about Montrampa...lol.

There are all kinds of studies done...if they just move the team over to the tampa side the attendance would be a lot better. It's almost impossible to get over to St Pete from the tampa side. Gandy is a total mess with construction. And the Howard Frankenstein is bumper to bumper. The problem is Stu only wants to put up $150 mill towards a new stadium and have everyone else pay for the rest. That's not happening and he knows it. He's a cheap bastard and if he moves the team then he moves the team. He a ****ing Mets fan anyhow. F him.
 

oxrageous

Founding Member
It's Good to be King
Administrator
Jun 5, 2014
36,936
97,631
Founding Member
This may be the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. The person who thought of it should be publicly beaten.
 

maheo30

WiLLLLLLLie! WiLLLLLLLie!
Lifetime Member
Jul 24, 2014
9,119
22,730
Montreal ran the expos out of town and they want to go back?
 

MJMGator

Founding Member
Slightly amused
Lifetime Member
Jun 10, 2014
20,042
41,119
Founding Member
How about just fold tent and award another city the franchise?
 

Swamp Donkey

Founding Member
7-14 vs P5 Fire Stricklin First
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
78,161
109,977
Founding Member
All the Muhammads and Achmeds Canada want to watch baseball?
 

Gatorbreath

Founding Member
The original "Breath" of the GCMB.
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
1,475
1,318
Founding Member
This idea is idiotic and will never happen as reported. Ox's remedy is too mild.

The bigger issue is the Rays' abysmal attendance since their inaugural season in 1998 that continued even through their "glory years" and through to today. This season they rank 29th out of 30 MLB teams in attendance and that includes sales gimmicks like $5 tickets. Oddly, then enjoy some of the best TV ratings in MLB. Go figure.

Simply put, the Tampa Bay area is the 18th largest MSA and should draw double the crowds the Rays draw today. There are lots of theories as to why the Rays draw so poorly, but no one really knows for sure. As an 18-year Tampa resident who was there for the franchise's birth, I do think the stadium itself and its location contribute to the problem. Others argue the weather, or that the citizenry is comprised of transplants that root for other teams, that Florida sucks for MLB, etc. Regardless, the Lightning draw well in Channelside playing an arguably less popular game, regularly selling out a 19,200 seat arena when they're really good - but still getting good crowds when they're not so good. And I can remember the hand-wringing as the Channelside arena was being considered - "No one will drive to that part of town for a hockey game!" Bunk. Using the NHL as an example, I have to believe that, under better circumstances (nicer stadium located near more people and companies), the Rays could draw 23-25K per home game, minimum.

The area has a decision to make. Do they want to keep the team? If so, they're going to have to pony up the better part of $1B for a new stadium and by God, that stadium needs to be in Tampa - Westshore, or Ybor or near Vinik's SPP in Channelside (is that flour mill site still available?). It should be in a walkable part of town. And by thunder (literally), it needs to be domed, or if they can afford it, a retractable roof. Considering any Pinellas location is sheer lunacy.

Now, I get the argument, that it is outrageous for ham and eggers to build millionaires and billionaires a new playground with their hard-earned tax dollars. And that is a fair position to take. But if you take that position, losing the team is a certainty, as the good folks in Charlotte, Nashville, Vegas, Portland or Montreal will pony up for a shiny, new stadium. It's the world we live in.

If they're smart, St. Pete will grant permission for negotiations across the Bay again and the area will get serious about solving the problem. Tomorrow. Man up, be a major league city and build a friggin stadium. If not, adieu, Rays.
 

gardnerwebbgator

Founding Member
Aight Then
Lifetime Member
Jun 19, 2014
9,549
15,616
Founding Member
Stu should sell to Vinik.

Charlotte made a grave mistake not making BB&T Ballpark expandable for MLB. Gorgeous setting for baseball, tops in attendance in minor league ball for a reason.
 

78

Founding Member
Dazed and Confused
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
19,745
27,635
Founding Member
I've been to plenty of games at the Trop. It's a bland stadium but it's easy to get in and out and it's air-conditioned. It's actually a pretty decent fan experience.

The problem is baseball. It's cemented in traditional venues like New York, Chicago, Boston and LA. Not here. Millennials couldn't care less about baseball and the transplanted Boomers are rooted with the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Red Sox or Cards. No in between. The Rays and Marlins? Last in attendance.

What a paradox. Some of the best talent of the land comes from Tampa Bay high schools. Gooden, Bell, Boggs, McGriff, Sheffield, Martinez. The list goes on and on. After high school? Seriously, no one gives a crap.
 

T REX

Founding Member
Well-Known Member
Jun 24, 2014
10,107
7,389
Founding Member
This idea is idiotic and will never happen as reported. Ox's remedy is too mild.

The bigger issue is the Rays' abysmal attendance since their inaugural season in 1998 that continued even through their "glory years" and through to today. This season they rank 29th out of 30 MLB teams in attendance and that includes sales gimmicks like $5 tickets. Oddly, then enjoy some of the best TV ratings in MLB. Go figure.

Simply put, the Tampa Bay area is the 18th largest MSA and should draw double the crowds the Rays draw today. There are lots of theories as to why the Rays draw so poorly, but no one really knows for sure. As an 18-year Tampa resident who was there for the franchise's birth, I do think the stadium itself and its location contribute to the problem. Others argue the weather, or that the citizenry is comprised of transplants that root for other teams, that Florida sucks for MLB, etc. Regardless, the Lightning draw well in Channelside playing an arguably less popular game, regularly selling out a 19,200 seat arena when they're really good - but still getting good crowds when they're not so good. And I can remember the hand-wringing as the Channelside arena was being considered - "No one will drive to that part of town for a hockey game!" Bunk. Using the NHL as an example, I have to believe that, under better circumstances (nicer stadium located near more people and companies), the Rays could draw 23-25K per home game, minimum.

The area has a decision to make. Do they want to keep the team? If so, they're going to have to pony up the better part of $1B for a new stadium and by God, that stadium needs to be in Tampa - Westshore, or Ybor or near Vinik's SPP in Channelside (is that flour mill site still available?). It should be in a walkable part of town. And by thunder (literally), it needs to be domed, or if they can afford it, a retractable roof. Considering any Pinellas location is sheer lunacy.

Now, I get the argument, that it is outrageous for ham and eggers to build millionaires and billionaires a new playground with their hard-earned tax dollars. And that is a fair position to take. But if you take that position, losing the team is a certainty, as the good folks in Charlotte, Nashville, Vegas, Portland or Montreal will pony up for a shiny, new stadium. It's the world we live in.

If they're smart, St. Pete will grant permission for negotiations across the Bay again and the area will get serious about solving the problem. Tomorrow. Man up, be a major league city and build a friggin stadium. If not, adieu, Rays.

Great post. You nailed it. The mayor of St Pete refuses to allow any more talk between the rays and tampa. Neither side is dropping $1 bill or even $800 mill. I doubt they are here in '28
 

Alumni Guy

Newbie
Lifetime Member
Nov 7, 2015
2,473
6,688
Anyone remember when the Lightning played at the Trop, back when it was the Thunderdome?

Back then, you could get general admission season tickets for $99.

Roman Hamrlik, Puuuuuuuuupppa, Chris Gratton..... Great Times.

The lightning always had a decent crowd.

I just think Tampa doesn’t care about MLB baseball. New stadium will help, but won’t make a major difference.
 

78

Founding Member
Dazed and Confused
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
19,745
27,635
Founding Member
Anyone remember when the Lightning played at the Trop, back when it was the Thunderdome?

Back then, you could get general admission season tickets for $99.

Roman Hamrlik, Puuuuuuuuupppa, Chris Gratton..... Great Times.

The lightning always had a decent crowd.

I just think Tampa doesn’t care about MLB baseball. New stadium will help, but won’t make a major difference.
I not only remember the early days, I was at the Lightning's Florida Suncoast Dome inaugural in 1993. Bigass crowd. God, what an awful stadium name that was. St. Pete can't do anything right.

Hockey is fast, physical and it doesn't hurt that the players are fan friendly and tend to stay out of jail. It's a huge draw in Tampa Bay.
 

Swamp Donkey

Founding Member
7-14 vs P5 Fire Stricklin First
Lifetime Member
Jun 9, 2014
78,161
109,977
Founding Member
The problem is baseball. It's cemented in traditional venues like New York, Chicago, Boston and LA. Not here. Millennials couldn't care less about baseball
But UAA is all in for baseball.
 

gardnerwebbgator

Founding Member
Aight Then
Lifetime Member
Jun 19, 2014
9,549
15,616
Founding Member
I not only remember the early days, I was at the Lightning's Florida Suncoast Dome inaugural in 1993. Bigass crowd. God, what an awful stadium name that was. St. Pete can't do anything right.

Hockey is fast, physical and it doesn't hurt that the players are fan friendly and tend to stay out of jail. It's a huge draw in Tampa Bay.

When I was home on Christmas break from GW, I went to a game in year one at the Expo Hall at the Fairgrounds. That was a fun atmosphere.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.

    Birthdays

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    31,644
    Messages
    1,615,776
    Members
    1,642
    Latest member
    fishermb