To Tampa and St. Pete: Compromise or we'll lose the Rays
Author note: I actually wrote most of this post years ago before this blog started, before Rick Kriseman was the mayor, and before my brief run for Congress.
In 2008, with a new attitude along with a new team, new uniforms, and a new team name along with fresh new talent, The Rays surprise everyone by going to the World Series though losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games. Since 2008, the Rays have been contenders to win the AL East and even to make to the World Series every year even with the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in the same division and losing key players year after year. However, the attendance is an issue. Even the Commissioner of MLB Bud Selig isn’t happy with the attendance of the Rays. There’s been Debate about if the Rays should move to Tampa or stay in St. Petersburg. As a Tampa native, I’ll admit I want to Rays to move to Tampa. It takes twice as long getting to Tropicana Field than it does to TBT Forum or Raymond James (well I haven’t been to a Bucs game since 1999). With the tickets price, I go to a few games. I probably go more often if the team was in Tampa.
Well my dad usually drives me to the Trop and he did it when the Lightning and the Storm called the Trop (then known as the Thunderdome) when I was young. You can say we share a love of sports though he’s more of a New York fan (well at least when it comes to baseball). Recently, he shared told me the real story of the Dodgers and why they went from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The story that’s usually told is then owner Walter O’Malley moved the team and becoming to villain of Brooklyn. However, there’s another villain named Robert Moses. He was the New York City Construction Coordinator who tried to force the Dodgers to move Queens where the New York Mets play now. Unfortunately for Moses the plan backfired as Los Angeles officials who came to Brooklyn for the 1956 World Series and to attract a team (the Washington Senators were their first choice) however O’Malley frustrated with Moses and other NY politicians listened and the LA officials gave O’Malley what wanted and with the rise of air travel in 1958 the Dodgers became LA’s team. Moses was also blamed for the loss of the New York Giants to San Francisco.
I will admit I was happy to hear that the Rays want to move to Ybor and I hope it does happen but will it well honestly I'm not so sure. Highly doubtful if it happens in 2020. In the spot where the Rays want to move I don't see the parking being there, I know there's parking garages there but not enough for a game in my opinion. Also I'm in favor of this if the money is there, if it's not just keep the team in St. Pete because I don't want the city of Tampa to be bankrupt so they can have the Rays cross the Bay.
No doubt this hurt the Brooklyn community including my
father who was 4 when the Dodgers played their last game in Brooklyn. To me,
this sounds what Tampa and St. Pete is going through. To Mr. Sternberg, Mr.
Buckhorn, Mr. Kriseman, and others involved in new stadium. Please come up with a
compromise otherwise, We the fans might say “goodbye” to the Rays the same way
Brooklyn said goodbye to the Dodgers. We may not lose the Rays to another city
but if Selig thought about contracting the Rays once, he might do it again and
next time might be the last. Also to the fans, come to some more games please.
The tickets are cheap and the team is good.
Also upset with the Lightning blowing a 3-2 series and not scoring a goal in those two games. Seriously?
I’m been living in Tampa my whole life. I remember when the
disappointment of the San Francisco Giants not moving to Tampa which was a
mixed blessing. One hand we (Tampa) would have celebrated three World Series
titles (2010, 2012, and 2014) however, we also would have celebrated Barry Bonds as
well.
However, we did get over that when the Devil Rays finally
come in 1998 after years of fighting for a Major League Baseball team. Then we
dealt with a decade of losing and seeing the Arizona Diamondbacks (who came up
with the Rays in 1998) winning the World Series in their fourth season. In case
you were wondering The Devil Rays were tied with last with the Pittsburgh
Pirates going 62-100. Also dealing with our in-state rivals Florida now Miami Marlins winning two championships in 11 years and six years apart.In 2008, with a new attitude along with a new team, new uniforms, and a new team name along with fresh new talent, The Rays surprise everyone by going to the World Series though losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games. Since 2008, the Rays have been contenders to win the AL East and even to make to the World Series every year even with the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in the same division and losing key players year after year. However, the attendance is an issue. Even the Commissioner of MLB Bud Selig isn’t happy with the attendance of the Rays. There’s been Debate about if the Rays should move to Tampa or stay in St. Petersburg. As a Tampa native, I’ll admit I want to Rays to move to Tampa. It takes twice as long getting to Tropicana Field than it does to TBT Forum or Raymond James (well I haven’t been to a Bucs game since 1999). With the tickets price, I go to a few games. I probably go more often if the team was in Tampa.
Well my dad usually drives me to the Trop and he did it when the Lightning and the Storm called the Trop (then known as the Thunderdome) when I was young. You can say we share a love of sports though he’s more of a New York fan (well at least when it comes to baseball). Recently, he shared told me the real story of the Dodgers and why they went from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The story that’s usually told is then owner Walter O’Malley moved the team and becoming to villain of Brooklyn. However, there’s another villain named Robert Moses. He was the New York City Construction Coordinator who tried to force the Dodgers to move Queens where the New York Mets play now. Unfortunately for Moses the plan backfired as Los Angeles officials who came to Brooklyn for the 1956 World Series and to attract a team (the Washington Senators were their first choice) however O’Malley frustrated with Moses and other NY politicians listened and the LA officials gave O’Malley what wanted and with the rise of air travel in 1958 the Dodgers became LA’s team. Moses was also blamed for the loss of the New York Giants to San Francisco.
I will admit I was happy to hear that the Rays want to move to Ybor and I hope it does happen but will it well honestly I'm not so sure. Highly doubtful if it happens in 2020. In the spot where the Rays want to move I don't see the parking being there, I know there's parking garages there but not enough for a game in my opinion. Also I'm in favor of this if the money is there, if it's not just keep the team in St. Pete because I don't want the city of Tampa to be bankrupt so they can have the Rays cross the Bay.
Also upset with the Lightning blowing a 3-2 series and not scoring a goal in those two games. Seriously?
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