It's just three games, he says

Gary Shelton writes about the team's plans to  plays three games in Orlando next May.

"It was troubling 17 years ago when it was Hugh Culverhouse talking about a dalliance with Orlando and, yeah, it's a little unsettling to hear Stu Sternberg singing the same lyrics...."

Read more of Shelton's column, then share your thoughts here.

Comments

[erik]

This is another in a long line of moves that make this franchise look like a joke.
Spare us the nifty "innovative" ideas and start getting us some talent. You do your part, and Tampa Bay will do theirs. (see Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning for fanbase demographics)

[rene]

I'm not thrilled with the idea. It feels slightly disloyal and, as Gary noted, perhaps a harbinger of foul things to come.

[Will]

Spend the money that it would cost for 3 games in Orland on PITCHING. When you get some PITCHING, the fans will see a team in contention & will come out to the ball park. You don't have enough seats to accomodate the numbers that'll show just from this area. Again PITCHING is the problem!!!!

[JOHN]

I have to say I don't agree with Gary's point of view. And to say "take the extra money and spend it on pitching" is a bit short-sighted as well. Have you SEEN the money these 2nd and 3rd-tier pitchers are demanding (and getting)? I feel really strongly that this current ownership group is building the organization the correct way, and they have to expand their fan base as a way of generating additional revenue. Unfortunately, as a small market team, that also means developing your talent from within and making strategic trades here and there. Give them a chance, as they're having to undo and fix ALL the alarmingly bad decisions made from the previous regime. Good, quality baseball is just around the corner. And I do feel it will be here in Tampa.

[josh]

personally I think this is a great idea. I moved to orlando to go to UCF 3 years ago and Ive only been able to get home twice to go to a rays game. Added to that is the fact that I cant even see many games on Tv (the local stations show about 15 games a year, all against sox and yanks, and the MLB.tv package blacks out for this area). I would love to see the rays expand into this area, as it is there is almost no competition except the Marlins, and we can definitely steal a huge metro area away and increase our fan base, meaning more money and more Free agents one day.

As for those who say, spend the money on pitching, what pitching? This year is a sellers market. this would be the worst time for teh Rays to go out and try to make a splash in the free agent market. No one wants a repeat of the hit show to happen.

[malcolm]

I don't like the idea of them playing in Orlando. It seems like ownership is taking away from the small base of truly loyal fans that do make the effort to buy season tickets and attend all home games. I bet the players would rather play at the Trop.
Remember our road record in '06.