Aug 12, 2015; Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski (15) singles in front of a smattering of fans at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
More from Tomahawk Take
- Braves News: Braves sign Luplow, Atlanta’s shortstop plans, more
- Atlanta Braves Could Go With Six-Man Rotation in 2023
- Atlanta Braves sign free agent outfielder Jordan Luplow
- Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 16-20
- Braves News: Reacting to Dansby’s departure, Michael Brantley, more
We’ve been covering this news about a proposal for a new Spring Training facility that would host the Atlanta Braves (beginning here and here). For certain, there’s no guarantees about anything related to that project as yet – for multiple reasons:
- The land offered up by Pinellas County, FL is subject to a review of multiple, completing bids for its use.
- The funding of the project is unknown, though requires at least $662 million based on the proposal itself.
- There are questions about the impact such a project might have on the Tampa Bay Rays
Speaking to that first point… and possibly the second one… Major League Baseball has now entered the fray. Here are three tweets from Rays beat writer Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times):
MLB issues statement saying more than spring facility for #Braves in Tampa Bay area the "most pressing need" is new stadium for #Rays.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) September 25, 2015
MLB says it's "committed to working with the #Rays to secure a new ballpark in cooperation with the Tampa Bay region."
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) September 25, 2015
And MLB says new #Rays stadium in Tampa Bay area "can only happen with the support of local political and business leaders.”
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) September 25, 2015
Well, those are really nice things to say… but they have no meaning behind them.
There is simply no political will to spend the $800 million to $1 billion to construct a new domed stadium in this state.
MLB doesn’t really like to see franchises moving around. It’s bad for… well, it’s bad for everything: fans, contracts, local goodwill, … you name it. A cursory glance at the most recent moves made by NFL teams will tell you that. The last team to change cities in major league baseball was the Washington Nationals as they moved from Montreal (2005).
Before that, you have to go back to 1972 when Washington lost the Senators to become the Texas Rangers (ending a “flurry” of relocations – 9 of them – dating back to 1953). It just doesn’t happen very often. Heck, they won’t let Oakland move to San Jose.
That said, this statement from MLB suggests strongly that they see this new Sheffield (et al) proposal as (a) a real thing; and (b) a real threat to the Rays and their future in the Tampa/St. Pete area.
Let’s go a bit deeper to see just why.
Next: Anybody Got an Atlas Here?