What if the Bulls held a few games at their original home, the Historic Durham Athletic Park, while the Rays played some of their games at the new stadium? This would give new life to the old ballpark, especially as decisions are being made about its future…
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Love the idea, but if you’ve been in the bowels of the old stadium, you’ll realize that there really is no way to house an MLB operation without major renovations.
The clubhouse is more like a low-end high school basketball locker room than even a current MiLB single-A locker room. There is no setup for media, no batters-eye backdrop in centerfield, limited area for concessions and it only seats 5,000.
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Fun fact, Steinbrenner used to bring the Yankees down to Chapel Hill for an annual spring exhibition when his daughter was a UNC undergrad between '77 and '81.
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“Oh I just love that Carolina, Carolina! What’s that song they sing down there, 'Rock me mama like a wagon wheel, take your shirt off- spin it around your head like a helicopter! OHHhhhh Car-oh-linaaaaa! I love that song, I love Carolinaa. Costanza! Bring us some Carolina barbecue, I need lunch and that Car-ohhh-linaaaaaa whole hog is a-callinnnnnn!”
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Oh my goodness. Never saw or heard of this. Thanks for pointing it out!
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I suspect the Wide Worlds of Sports in Disney is a pretty attractive option and I’m sure Disney will make it attractive. Easy trip up I-4 for Tampa local fans, you’ll get some exposure to Orlando that doesn’t have MLB and likely has a good fan base.
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sounds kinda like a neat novel event to try…we had the movie after all.
(extra characters)
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The Atlantic published an update about the Rays’ situation for 2025. The full story is behind a paywall, because good journalism is worth paying for, but here’s a snippet that grabbed my attention:
"MLB is focused on the immediate need — a home for 2025 — and the league’s preference is for the Rays to stay in Florida, where there is no shortage of spring training and minor-league facilities to choose from. Two possibilities are Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training facility, in Tampa, and the old spring training home of the Atlanta Braves in Kissimmee, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex.
But the league has considered basically everything imaginable, including faraway spots. Per a person briefed on the discussions, it is unlikely that the Rays would begin in 2025 in a city that is considered a prime destination for an eventual expansion franchise. That means Nashville and Salt Lake City are doubtful."
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It seems like the writer inserted that last bit themselves. Not sure that the league would go on record saying what the prime destinations are because it could lose them some leverage with the cities they’re working with.
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There are also not stadiums there. Same reason they won’t play in Durham. Plenty of closer minor league stadiums.
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I hope this is true. Would be nice
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Looks like the Yankees agreed to loan their pre-season/minor league park in Tampa to the Rays for the 2025 season.
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Well the hope was nice while it lasted!
Hopefully Rays fans actually show up for once now they can’t use the excuse of the stadium not being in Tampa.
And if they can’t……maybe they’ll look elsewhere.
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Can’t say I’m surprised. It always seemed like the most likely option provided the Yankees didn’t veto it, which they apparently decided not to. It’s also notably consistent with the reporting written by baseball’s beat writers about the Rays’ and MLB’s preferences, and the statements from other locations (Durham, Montreal) saying their weren’t interested.
I guess they figure the issue with the rain in Tampa must be manageable.
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not surprised by this move.
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"If Sternberg follows through on his threat, the cities waiting for an MLB expansion process instead could scramble to lure the Rays.
Montreal previously considered the Rays’ concept of splitting the season between Florida and Canada. Nashville, Charlotte and Raleigh have expressed interest in expansion, and those cities would allow the Rays to remain in the same geographical region."
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As much as I would love another pro team in Raleigh, I really question if I want all the stadium drama that so many towns go thru if they don’t give up whatever the owner wants. In many places it feels like an abusive relationship.
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Are we in the same geographical region as Tampa? Its probably less time to drive to NYC.
We are in the same geographic region as Florida. It’s just our geographic region (the South) is huge compared to more compact ones like New England.
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