For the past two-plus years, Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg has looked at a two-pronged approach to baseball remaining in Tampa Bay by splitting the regular season between the team’s home since its inception in 1998 and a second stadium in Montreal. That idea has officially come to an end, as Sternberg announced Thursday that baseball’s executive committee has shot down his plan to divide time between the two cities.
The news was broken by Zac Blobner of Rays Radio flagship 95.3 WDAE.
#RAYS NEWS: Source in MLB League Office tells me that Rays Montreal/Tampa Bay Split City Plan is DEAD… that’s what Owner Stu Sternberg is meeting with Media about at 1PM today!
More on @953WDAE, including the Press Conference, today.
More details to follow…
— 𝗭𝗮𝗰 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗻𝗲𝗿🎙 (@ZacOnTheMic) January 20, 2022
“There is virtue in pursuing something you believe in, and I am proud of our efforts,” Sternberg said in a statement. “I am determined that these years pf pursuit and ingenuity will lead to something positive for our organization. Our goal is — and always has been — for the Rays to thrive here in Tampa Bay, today and in future generations.”
In prepared remarks for the media Thursday afternoon, the Rays owner thanked the group in Montreal, including Stephen Bronfman, whose family owned the Montreal Expos, for their hard work and friendship during the exploration of the “sister-city” plan.
Sternberg also acknowledged that the team had gotten deep into discussion with the city of Tampa about a new stadium, though it was only with the sister-city plan in mind.
However, Tampa mayor Jane Castor said the city had also been looking at plan that would invlve keeping the team in the region full-time.
“All along our goal has been to keep the Rays in Tampa Bay,” Castor said on Twitter. “We had been working on both sister city and full season proposals, and now we can focus all of our energy on a full season. I am optimistic Rays baseball will call Tampa Bay home for many years to come.”
All along our goal has been to keep the Rays in Tampa Bay. We had been working on both sister city and full season proposals, and now we can focus all of our energy on a full season.
I am optimistic @RaysBaseball will call Tampa Bay home for many years to come.
— Jane Castor (@JaneCastor) January 20, 2022
Sternberg reiterated that he has no plans to sell the team, and did not mention the possibility of relocating the franchise. The Rays released an open letter from Sternberg on Twitter Thursday afternoon:
Dear Rays Fans,
For more than two decades, the Rays have proudly served as Tampa Bay’s hometown team, supporting our community and uplifting our growing region. Our priorities are to win baseball games and keep the team in Tampa Bay for generations to come.
Today’s news that MLB’s executive council has rejected our Sister City plan is painful. We had focused our full attention to that effort.
We know that questions about our future in Tampa Bay will continue to surface and there are no simple immediate answers. What we can provide is our continued pledge to field winning teams, to invest in our community and to contribute to Tampa Bay being a great place to call home.
I am very grateful for the open-mindedness, support and encouragement we received from across Tampa Bay during our Sister City efforts.
If we harness that momentum and build upon it, together we will keep the Rays here in Champa Bay for generation upon generation.
–Stuart Sternberg, Principal Owner
The Rays are under a use agreement to play at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg through the 2027 season.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
