Tampa Bay Rays Owner Predicts The Team Will Not Exist in A Few Years.... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-08-2011, 04:33 AM

"It won't be my decision, or solely my decision. But eventually, major-league baseball is going to vaporize this team. It could go on nine, 10, 12 more years. But between now and then, it's going to vaporize this team. Maybe a check gets written locally, maybe someone writes me a check (to buy the team). But it's going to get vaporized."

• "If I had $80 million to put out there, we'd be moving along in life," Sternberg said. "We just don't have $12 million to put into a hitter."

• "When I came here, I was confident we could put a winning team on the field, and that would do it. We won, and we won, and we won and we won … and it didn't do it. Whatever it is, there are 29 other teams passing us like we're going in reverse now. Except on the field, and at some point, that changes."

• "As the owner, I could have affected things today. Today, and a couple of games where a thumper would thump. I could decide to mortgage the future and trade all the young guys, but the truth is that we would only get $9.82 extra at the gate. So what's the sense?"

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/article1195248.ece

MrCleveland · 10-08-2011, 10:19 AM

I wonder if The Devil Rays will be Montreal Expos 2.0?

Brian Damage · 10-08-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

I wonder if The Devil Rays will be Montreal Expos 2.0?

Heaven forbid....Montreal was a baseball ghost town just like Tampa Bay is now. What a shame considering how talented this team is...

MrCleveland · 10-08-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Heaven forbid....Montreal was a baseball ghost town just like Tampa Bay is now. What a shame considering how talented this team is...

Vancouver then?

Brian Damage · 10-08-2011, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

Vancouver then?

Vancouver couldn't sell an NBA team in a smaller venue, it was be 10 x's worse for baseball...

MrCleveland · 10-08-2011, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Vancouver couldn't sell an NBA team in a smaller venue, it was be 10 x's worse for baseball...

So baseball can't thrive in Canada unless it's called Toronto?

Could the rays move to Mexico then?

Brian Damage · 10-08-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

So baseball can't thrive in Canada unless it's called Toronto?

Could the rays move to Mexico then?

Toronto is a decent city for baseball, but only when they are winning. IMO

As far as Mexico goes, the drug climate right now is way to dangerous to put a major league team down there.

TVFactFan · 10-08-2011, 01:00 PM

Far as i'm concerned the Rays could have vanished from the league when they allowed the Phillies to win the WS in 2008

Marvo301 · 10-08-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Vancouver couldn't sell an NBA team in a smaller venue, it was be 10 x's worse for baseball...

Brian please find out the facts before you post. The venue (Rogers Arena which was then known as G.M. Place) was the least of the Vancouver Grizzlies problems. And they had no problem selling tickets either. The only problem they had was getting corporate sponsorship. And that was only because the NBA flatly refused to make any commitment whatsoever to keeping the team in Vancouver. As far as baseball in Vancouver is concerned there is no appropriate venue for MLB in Vancouver and I can't see one being built in the future either. So I don't believe the Rays (or any other MLB team) will be relocating to Vancouver.

Brian Damage · 10-08-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Brian please find out the facts before you post. The venue (Rogers Arena which was then known as G.M. Place) was the least of the Vancouver Grizzlies problems. And they had no problem selling tickets either. The only problem they had was getting corporate sponsorship. And that was only because the NBA flatly refused to make any commitment whatsoever to keeping the team in Vancouver. As far as baseball in Vancouver is concerned there is no appropriate venue for MLB in Vancouver and I can't see one being built in the future either. So I don't believe the Rays (or any other MLB team) will be relocating to Vancouver.

I apologize Marv, but why give Vancouver a team, when the NBA wasn't going to support it 100% That really makes no sense. The fact is, Vancouver is a hockey town much like most cities in Canada.

Marvo301 · 10-08-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I apologize Marv, but why give Vancouver a team, when the NBA wasn't going to support it 100% That really makes no sense. The fact is, Vancouver is a hockey town much like most cities in Canada.

I believe the NBA only put a team in Vancouver for one reason and that was to get a team into Toronto. They probably felt it would be easier to introduce two Canadian teams at the same time and once the Raptors were established in Toronto and able to stand on their own as the only Canadian franchise it was bye bye Vancouver - hello Memphis.

Brian Damage · 10-08-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I believe the NBA only put a team in Vancouver for one reason and that was to get a team into Toronto. They probably felt it would be easier to introduce two Canadian teams at the same time and once the Raptors were established in Toronto and able to stand on their own as the only Canadian franchise it was bye bye Vancouver - hello Memphis.

If that is true, that would be absolutely disgraceful on the part of David Stern!

catlover79 · 10-08-2011, 06:31 PM

Somehow this news doesn't surprise me...

Reverend Jim · 10-08-2011, 06:44 PM

MrCleveland · 10-08-2011, 11:50 PM

If Tampa Bay HAD to move...where would they go?

10-08-2011, 04:33 AM	#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	Tampa Bay Rays Owner Predicts The Team Will Not Exist in A Few Years.... "It won't be my decision, or solely my decision. But eventually, major-league baseball is going to vaporize this team. It could go on nine, 10, 12 more years. But between now and then, it's going to vaporize this team. Maybe a check gets written locally, maybe someone writes me a check (to buy the team). But it's going to get vaporized." • "If I had $80 million to put out there, we'd be moving along in life," Sternberg said. "We just don't have $12 million to put into a hitter." • "When I came here, I was confident we could put a winning team on the field, and that would do it. We won, and we won, and we won and we won … and it didn't do it. Whatever it is, there are 29 other teams passing us like we're going in reverse now. Except on the field, and at some point, that changes." • "As the owner, I could have affected things today. Today, and a couple of games where a thumper would thump. I could decide to mortgage the future and trade all the young guys, but the truth is that we would only get $9.82 extra at the gate. So what's the sense?" http://www.tampabay.com/sports/article1195248.ece
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-08-2011, 10:19 AM	#2
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,235	I wonder if The Devil Rays will be Montreal Expos 2.0?
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

10-08-2011, 06:31 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Somehow this news doesn't surprise me...
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

10-08-2011, 01:00 PM	#8
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,135	Far as i'm concerned the Rays could have vanished from the league when they allowed the Phillies to win the WS in 2008

10-08-2011, 06:44 PM	#14
Reverend Jim Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 08, 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 783

10-08-2011, 11:50 PM	#15
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,235	If Tampa Bay HAD to move...where would they go?