The Rays are not moving until at least 2027

[Cam Cam]

White the headline talks up a “possible move,” this interview of Rays owner Stuart Sternberg by Fox’s Jon Paul Morosi seems pretty unequivocal: the Rays aren’t going anyplace and Sterberg is more focused on beginning to lay the groundwork for the Rays ballpark which comes after that iron-clad lease on Tropicana Field expires in [gulp] 2027.

About that date, Sternberg says:

   "It’s far, but it’s not that far because I can’t in 2026 snap my fingers and all of a sudden have a place to play. The groundwork needs to be done, starting very soon. You’ve got to figure out the proper location, whether it’s 10 yards from where we’re playing or 30 miles. Then you have to figure out if it’s feasible. Then you have to go through the approvals and everything else. Even if you have a location, just to get that OK’d takes years. Then it takes years to actually build the thing. At some point in the next few years, we’ve got to have it figured out."

Source: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2...h-2027/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/ ... um=twitter</a><!-- m -->

 

[Homerunsox2005]

Not much of a love for baseball in Tampa, no matter how nice the Stadium is. Florida will never be a baseball state.

 

[Cam Cam]

A lot of it has to do with the fact that Tropicana Field is actually in St. Petersburg. Whenever I went there, I was shocked by the fact that Tropicana Field is literally just a random gigantic dome in the middle of loads of houses. I think things would be a lot better if the Rays were actually located in Tampa. I don't think anyone is willing to put the money down to make that happen though.

 

[Noble Genius]

A lot of it has to do with the fact that Tropicana Field is actually in St. Petersburg. Whenever I went there, I was shocked by the fact that Tropicana Field is literally just a random gigantic dome in the middle of loads of houses. I think things would be a lot better if the Rays were actually located in Tampa. I don't think anyone is willing to put the money down to make that happen though.

I would agree with this. I just googled it myself and was left in shock to say the least. :devil:

The setting for any team makes a big difference. I don't understand why this hasn't been considered by the media who's often reporting on this.