It was very much a day for mumble-mouthed stadium press statements by elected officials yesterday: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor spoke about her plans for a new Rays stadium and said, um, things:
While Castor supports a split-season team — and is optimistic a deal can be reached — she says there’s a limit to the public money she’s willing to put down.
She’s not willing, at this point, to put a dollar figure on her limit…
“We’re going to do everything we can, within reason, to keep the Rays in the Tampa Bay area,” she said. “But ultimately, there is a bottom line.”
Okay, then? Some argument can be made for not negotiating in public — you don’t want to tie your hands in case you decide later that chipping in an extra $10 million or something will get a deal done — but saying you have a limit, but not an actual limit that you can put a number on, is just trying to have it both ways: Castor wants to build a stadium, but not spend too much on one, but not to commit herself on what “too much” would be. This is a terrible way to buy a used car, let alone a multi-hundred-million-dollar stadium, but presumably Castor is less serious about having a secret spending limit than just trying to portray herself as “hard-nosed” and “flexible” at the same time, which is a neat trick if you can pull it off.
The Tampa Bay Business Journal also noted that Castor “characterized ongoing conversations between the city, Hillsborough County, the Tampa Sports Authority and the Tampa Bay Rays as discussions rather than active negotiations,” which means … man, I dunno. Somebody’s talking about something, and eventually someone will agree on a dollar figure, or not. Film at 11!
Why are Tampa Bay officials even willing to negotiate for half a team when they have a whole team now? Is it that clear that the market can’t support its own team?
Sternberg is threatening that if Tampa Bay doesn’t accept half a team, in 2027 he’ll take the Rays and move them to *coughcoughcough hey sorry guys my mom is calling me*. That’s enough cover for someone like Mayor Castor to respond with “Welp, half a stadium it is, then!”
@Bruce, the Tampa Bay area knows it can’t support the Rays long-term, so it’s trying to cut as many corners as possible to keep “half” a team, even if it looks stupid on the surface.
Also, Neil, what are your thoughts on this story about 4 disgruntled ex-minor league teams? (link below) Corruption sure exists in baseball, huh?
https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/12/20/four-former-milb-teams-challenge-mlbs-antitrust-exemption-in-u-s-district-court/
Not sure I’d categorize that as “corruption” or as “monopolistic behavior.” The teams are going to have an uphill battle to dislodge MLB’s antitrust exemption, but then, MLB may decide to pay them off with a settlement before it gets that far.
Somewhat better coverage than the Ballpark Digest thing:
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlbs-antitrust-exemption-facing-legal-challenge-as-former-minor-league-teams-sue-over-milb-overhaul/
Totally agree with you about Ballpark Digest (it happened to be the first place that I found to report that).
MLB didn’t invent the game of baseball itself. They’re just reaping the rewards of what a guy created and then went to Hawaii to get away from it all. Just my opinion, but I would call it “monopolistic behavior” at least in the sense that MLB is acting like it can tell any given market what level of baseball it can and cannot have because of beyond unrealistic standards MLB sets for it to keep a team. Ever notice how recently no one is daring to start any new independent minor leagues? They know the economic structure of baseball is broken in many ways. But hey, that’s just how my “Average Joe” baseball mind thinks.
Back on topic, I wonder how Tampa’s gonna keep spinning this talk about sharing a team with Montreal and make it look good to fans.
I blame you for all of this Neil. The only alternative city that has ever been mentioned is Greensboro… and look what has happened.
The Bills aren’t going to Los Angeles.
The Bills aren’t going to London.
The Bills aren’t going to Tokyo.
The Bills aren’t going to St. Louis.
The Bills aren’t going to San Diego.
The Bills aren’t going to Oakland.
The Bills aren’t going to Portland.
The Bills tried Toronto and it was a financial disaster (for the promoter… Wilson got his money up front, of course).
Perhaps those in charge of allotting tax dollars provided by the people of Buffalo and New York state in general should be asking questions about where the Pegulas might move (something they have said they wouldn’t do) instead of throwing ever increasing amounts of money at them until they agree not to start thinking about moving the team.
Who do these folks work for again?
I have no idea how this got posted under the non bills story… sorry folks…
Actually John, maybe you’re onto a scoop. Robert E. Rich Jr and Stuart Sternberg agree to a split season between Buffalo and St. Petersburg. The Tampaffalo Raysons. Rich’s dream of Buffalo becoming a MLB franchise, at least part-time, will finally come to fruition.
Now I’m scared. Your crystal ball is reading the minds of billionaires.
When will any other these teams learn that the newness of a ball park will not guarantee sellouts most of the season which kills their argument that more fans would come to the park?
The Marlins averaged about 27,000 fans in their inaugural season at Marlins Park which is about 75% of capacity or the Rangers at 65% of capacity in 2021. I would give the Rangers the benefit of a doubt with the pandemic, but the Texas leaders are not known for wanting to take measures to protect their people.
Another fun fact, The Rangers did better at their old place which was suppose to be so antiquated and uncomfortable in the Texas heat that people would not go to the games.
I understand that the luxury suites and high end seating areas is where the money is, but one of these politicians have to say BS when a team says fans are not coming because it is a bad ball park. Paying $15 for a Hot Dog cooked in Hydrant Water and calling it a Supreme Dog and $20 Beer that was brewed the season before last and calling it Classic Brew will be the ballpark experience the owners feel we are missing.
May be a lost cause, but I really hope that the undisclosed number in the Tampa mayor’s head is “zero”