The Tampa Bay Rays Threaten to Leave Town....Yeah, About that... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-19-2009, 03:48 PM

ST. PETERSBURG — If the Rays don't get a new baseball stadium, how easily could they leave town?

That question — critical to any negotiations between St. Petersburg and the team — has taken center stage in the city's mayoral race.

Kathleen Ford says the Rays are committed by contract to play at Tropicana Field through 2027. She refuses to even speculate on alternatives.

"I'm more concerned about the local economy and having more officers on the street and decreasing taxes,'' Ford says.

Bill Foster can foresee concrete rising from the ground as early as 2016, when the current bonds expire on Tropicana Field.

Yes, the city could try to enforce the Trop agreement until 2027, Foster says, but teams break contracts all the time and no telling how messy a lawsuit could be.

"In the meantime,'' he says, "we would be spending a lot of time and money litigating against one of our partners.''

Any new stadium would take years of planning and negotiations before voters could approve or reject it in a referendum.

How Ford or Foster navigates that process could determine whether the city ends up with a ribbon cutting or a court battle.

Legal experts say the Trop lease is not as ironclad as Ford suggests, because a judge could refuse to enforce key provisions.

On the other hand, other factors make it difficult for the Rays to leave town any time soon.

That dichotomy leaves the next mayor with a balancing act:

Jettison the Trop too quickly and you sacrifice leverage that translates into tax dollars.

Push too closely to 2027 and good-bye baseball.

'Use agreement'

Most leases call for rent payments over a specified term. If tenants leave early, courts usually award the landlord whatever money is owed for the full term.

City officials are quick to stress that the Trop contract is a not a lease and little rent is paid.

The contract is a "use agreement,'' they say. The Rays got a stadium in 1996 under original owner Vince Naimoli. In return, he and any successors pledged to play there for 30 years.

Benefits to the city cannot be measured in dollars alone, the contract says. Baseball brings jobs, taxes, promotion, a higher quality of life and civic pride.

Both sides agreed that the city could enforce its interests by seeking an injunction to keep the Rays from leaving early. The contract forbids the Rays from even talking to another city about moving.

Forcing sports teams to stay in town has some legal precedent.

In 2002, a state judge blocked Major League Baseball's attempt to "contract'' or eliminate the Minnesota Twins. And in 2008, a federal judge forbade the Seattle Sonics from moving to Oklahoma City before the lease expired.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...to-say/1037488

Waterston_Fan · 09-19-2009, 04:15 PM

But the thing is, the Seattle Super sonics still left Seattle.

Brian Damage · 09-19-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterston_Fan

But the thing is, the Seattle Super sonics still left Seattle.

yeah, not until after their lease expired. The Rays lease doesn't expire until 2027!!!

TVFactFan · 09-19-2009, 05:16 PM

After losing to the Phillies in the WS I would like if they left the league-lol

Wreckless · 09-19-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLifeAdjuster

After losing to the Phillies in the WS I would like if they left the league-lol

You always measure everything up to Philadelphia. It gets annoying.

MrCleveland · 09-19-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wreckless

You always measure everything up to Philadelphia. It gets annoying.

It's always sunny in Philadelphia!

How's that?

TVFactFan · 09-19-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wreckless

You always measure everything up to Philadelphia. It gets annoying.

Sorry Kyle I don't like seeing anything about the Rays after causing me aggravation last year. If I had the Power they all would be out the league

Brian Damage · 09-19-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLifeAdjuster

Sorry Kyle I don't like seeing anything about the Rays after causing me aggravation last year. If I had the Power they all would be out the league

TVFactFan · 09-19-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

LOL, Take down Boston and lose to Phillies. Still unbelievable

Brian Damage · 09-19-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLifeAdjuster

LOL, Take down Boston and lose to Phillies. Still unbelievable

I still say if the Red Sox won that series against the Rays, they would've beaten the Phillies.

TVFactFan · 09-19-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I still say if the Red Sox won that series against the Rays, they would've beaten the Phillies.

I know they would have, the Rays were too much on a High from beating Boston and forgot it was more baseball to play which is why they lost Game 1

Wreckless · 09-19-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLifeAdjuster

LOL, Take down Boston and lose to Phillies. Still unbelievable

Wouldn't you think- the Rays beat Boston, Tampa is better then Boston, and the Phillies beat Tampa, so therefor they are better then Boston and Tampa. But no, you make excuses and say oh if they played this team, they would of lost. tampa had 97 wins last year.

Brian Damage · 09-19-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLifeAdjuster

I know they would have, the Rays were too much on a High from beating Boston and forgot it was more baseball to play which is why they lost Game 1

That's what happened to the Yankees in 2003??? They beat the Sox on an Aaron Boone HR then lost to the Marlins in the World Series.

Wreckless · 09-19-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

It's always sunny in Philadelphia!

How's that?

The show is funny. And responding to your metaphor, it is great!

How is Cleveland?

and I am not insulting you by asking that.

Wreckless · 09-19-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLifeAdjuster

I know they would have, the Rays were too much on a High from beating Boston and forgot it was more baseball to play which is why they lost Game 1

09-19-2009, 03:48 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	The Tampa Bay Rays Threaten to Leave Town....Yeah, About that... ST. PETERSBURG — If the Rays don't get a new baseball stadium, how easily could they leave town? That question — critical to any negotiations between St. Petersburg and the team — has taken center stage in the city's mayoral race. Kathleen Ford says the Rays are committed by contract to play at Tropicana Field through 2027. She refuses to even speculate on alternatives. "I'm more concerned about the local economy and having more officers on the street and decreasing taxes,'' Ford says. Bill Foster can foresee concrete rising from the ground as early as 2016, when the current bonds expire on Tropicana Field. Yes, the city could try to enforce the Trop agreement until 2027, Foster says, but teams break contracts all the time and no telling how messy a lawsuit could be. "In the meantime,'' he says, "we would be spending a lot of time and money litigating against one of our partners.'' Any new stadium would take years of planning and negotiations before voters could approve or reject it in a referendum. How Ford or Foster navigates that process could determine whether the city ends up with a ribbon cutting or a court battle. Legal experts say the Trop lease is not as ironclad as Ford suggests, because a judge could refuse to enforce key provisions. On the other hand, other factors make it difficult for the Rays to leave town any time soon. That dichotomy leaves the next mayor with a balancing act: Jettison the Trop too quickly and you sacrifice leverage that translates into tax dollars. Push too closely to 2027 and good-bye baseball. 'Use agreement' Most leases call for rent payments over a specified term. If tenants leave early, courts usually award the landlord whatever money is owed for the full term. City officials are quick to stress that the Trop contract is a not a lease and little rent is paid. The contract is a "use agreement,'' they say. The Rays got a stadium in 1996 under original owner Vince Naimoli. In return, he and any successors pledged to play there for 30 years. Benefits to the city cannot be measured in dollars alone, the contract says. Baseball brings jobs, taxes, promotion, a higher quality of life and civic pride. Both sides agreed that the city could enforce its interests by seeking an injunction to keep the Rays from leaving early. The contract forbids the Rays from even talking to another city about moving. Forcing sports teams to stay in town has some legal precedent. In 2002, a state judge blocked Major League Baseball's attempt to "contract'' or eliminate the Minnesota Twins. And in 2008, a federal judge forbade the Seattle Sonics from moving to Oklahoma City before the lease expired. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...to-say/1037488
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

09-19-2009, 04:15 PM	#2
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	But the thing is, the Seattle Super sonics still left Seattle.

09-19-2009, 05:16 PM	#4
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,153	After losing to the Phillies in the WS I would like if they left the league-lol