Could political mess cause Tampa Bay Rays to look towards Utah?

[@Mr.NoName1972]

Rays should move to Montreal and be called the Ex-Rays.

[@SarahDigsHockey]

can't they move to any other city and be called the ex-rays there as well?

[@부루마블-q8x]

😂

[@mikebritcom3171]

after the lock down debacle MLB will never allow another franchise in Canada, espeically in a city that has already failed with MLB

[@nickolaslewis4416]

LOOOOLLLLL!!!!

[@herotomillions4095]

​@@mikebritcom3171 it wasn't a debacle. It was a pivot and it worked out well

[@OhShiitakeMushrooms]

Utah Jazz came from new Orleans, Utah hockey club came from Arizona, so…it could happen.

[@BobBaker-v9v]

Lol . If you know anything about baseball and MLB, you'd know they have NO desire to put a team in UTAH

[@JP82395]

And you know that how?

[@D2h2766]

​@BobBaker-v9v Oh man, you speak for all of the MLB? That's crazy. Congrats on your success!

[@mr.wilson8340]

Major league baseball moving to Utah would be just one more team to go along with the Jazz and Utah Hockey Club. Mediocre at best forever with no chance of winning any kind of championship. Big time players don’t want to be in Utah and I don’t blame them. The fun light is always off in Salt Lake City.

[@Keithdagreat]

It too cold play there

[@gibing108]

I am a rays fan that lives in St. Pete and my life has been incredibly affected by the hurricane. If the race were a lead go to Utah, my heart would be more broken than I can even imagine it already being

[@77-ty7gb]

NEWS ALERT: The Tampa Bay Rays will move to Anchorage Alaska and become the Anchorage Blizzard, they will play in an open air stadium that will house 8,500.

[@danrhone9756]

Alaska never had a major sports team

[@77-ty7gb]

@danrhone9756 Think Onion News. Think Sarcasm.

[@HunterMaggiacomo]

The Rays moving to Steinbrenner Field is a win-win for Tampa Bay baseball. The stadium is already built, saving millions compared to a new ballpark, and puts the Rays in a central Tampa location, making games more accessible for fans. The Yankees can still use Steinbrenner for spring training while relocating their Tarpons to a revamped facility like Walter Fuller Park, ensuring both teams thrive. This deal would boost local businesses, reduce public costs, and give Tampa a stronger MLB presence. It’s a smart move for the city, the fans, and the future of baseball here. Let’s make it happen!

[@josephdegarmo]

Put the Utah Rays in the AL West, Houston Astros in the AL Central, and Cleveland Guardians in the AL East.

[@michaelleroy9281]

Utah in AL central Guardians in AL east , I fixed it

[@josephdegarmo]

@@michaelleroy9281 Texas is east of Utah, so that would make no sense whatsoever.

[@ringleaders10820A]

​@josephdegarmo That's completely fine, no need to separate Astros and Rangers

[@semipenguin]

The Astros should have never been put in the AL West. They should have moved the Arizona Diamondbacks to the AL West and moved the Astros back to the NL West. The Astros were always natural rivals to the Giants, Dodgers, and Padres. And if you were gonna move an AL Central team to the AL East, it should be the Detroit Tigers. They were in the AL East back in the 90s.

[@SteveSonoga]

Billionaires are playing taxpayers against each other. Please don't fall for it!

[@Austden]

Seriously

[@kgroves17]

I personally have a hard time seeing a team in the AL East relocating to Utah. It would completely mess up all the divisions.

[@landonspeares]

It would be a challenge, but I could see the AL moving the Astros to the AL Central and the Guardians to the AL East

[@BobBaker-v9v]

There is ABSOLUTELY NO chance the Rays move to Utah

[@dsarmy1]

They would probably go to Nashville, Charlotte or Orlando. All 3 of those cities also have groups trying to get a team. Nashville has been trying for a long while now.

[@ElJefe-i7r]

Move Milwaukee to the AL and have the devil rays go to the NL

[@ryanb4541]

​@@landonspeares the Astros never should have left the NL that's where they belong

[@SuperJ213]

Sure, why not. I was hoping for the A's, but I'd be OK with the Rays.

[@iloveowls90]

nice rhyme!

[@dagobert1234321]

A’s would come with the name.. Rays would be rebranded so you can start new: Deseret Pioneers, Honeycomb’s.. do many choices

[@DerkSpringer]

@@dagobert1234321they would just name them the razz

[@Levihasel-17]

The rays would probably move to Nashville and become the sounds

[@HeartDrivenFinance]

Utah would be such an amazing place for an MLB team. I would love to see this happen. So much growth in the state and an incredible sports environment.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

Is baseball even legal in Utah?

[@andrewcarpenter687]

Baseballs time has come and gone...extorting the local gubers for money should be outlawed...

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

Please take them!!!!!

[@NathanDalebout]

Yes to MLB in Utah

[@Mewingconor]

No Utah my coyotes moved there and ruined my entire life and From that day on I am depressed

[@D2h2766]

Could be worse. They could have made a run for the cup in their first year. Not going to happen obviously but that would be the ultimate slap in the face

[@mikeh5629]

Rest assured, politics can and will screw anything up. Regardless of what happens, your taxes will continue going up and you’ll wonder what exactly am I getting for the taxes I pay.

[@Dotteboy816]

No they’ll just move to Tampa

[@D2h2766]

Is Tampa bay not Tampa?

[@SvanMagic]

@@D2h2766 no Tampa Bay is the region. Just like the Salt Lake Metro is not just the city.

[@KTM22Ride]

YES! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@herschelwright4663]

Move to either Raleigh or Charlotte.

[@Dotteboy816]

The rays don’t want to be in pinellas and they are salty about it , they’re clearly trying to be in Tampa

[@SvanMagic]

They aren't getting any money for Tampa.

[@SvanMagic]

SLC isn't getting the Rays before Orlando. Sorry everyone.

[@D2h2766]

Money talks man

[@SvanMagic]

@D2h2766 yeah, Orlando has $2b ready to go. SLC doesn't have anywhere close to that.

[@D2h2766]

​@SvanMagic Yeah bud SLC is at 3.5 billion

[@SvanMagic]

@@D2h2766 I just read an article, they have $900m they're trying to raise with taxes. Orlando doesn't have to raise taxes for the money.

[@D2h2766]

​@@SvanMagicIt's almost exactly the same funding situation as Orlando but double. 900m in utah, much like Orlando, is in public funding (tourism tax) while the rest is private funding. Smith entertainment group here has deep pockets and is willing to spend to get a team. Of course, it makes way more sense for the rays to go to Orlando, i am just saying, don't assume Utah can't foot the bill or fill seats.

[@chuckdameron5626]

The owner does not have money so you probably will not get a super star unless he draft him

[@acebragg5559]

Be careful what you wish for. The deal St. Pete signed was probably the worst deal ever signed by a city for a new stadium. Sternberg and his group are going to want something exactly like it if they go anywhere else. Be prepared to get fleeced.

[@wolfpacva]

Sure hope they do not move to UTAH !!!

[@jazznik2]

0:47 "the Rays ... team has already spent $50 mil for earlier work on the new stadium". What was it spent on?

[@frankiecastelloncaps]

Only thing approved by St. Pete is clean up debris from Milton which was $6 million. No vote yet on repairs.

[@jamesmay5860]

Rays need to leave this area .no support there.

[@D2h2766]

The stars are aligining again!!

[@miserablecardinalsfan]

can't wait for the utah baseball club

[@valvenus5715]

How bout the slc rays?

[@fuckeduphippie]

Any team moving to Utah, has to use “Utah” in the name. It’s a mandatory requirement of the 900 million dollars we approved.

[@snakebyteOne]

Wow, politician(s) openly trash talking the team's management? What usually comes next are the moving trucks ...

[@frankiecastelloncaps]

Just no! MLB will focus on Tampa, if any issue on relocation. Nashville and Orlando might help. I have a take on that, but SLC, stick to expansion, it will be better.

[@mattlorentz1988]

Hey Montreal is renovating/ putting a new roof on Olympic Stadium there's a spot to go in the future

[@mystuffyesmystuff]

Scheduling will put an end to this idea. MLB will move Tampa somewhere close to the existing AL East members because touching scheduling is something nobody wants.

[@damienalicea8696]

It's too late for the Tampa Bay Rays playing in Utah. They playing at New York Yankees' Spring Training Stadium in Tampa Bay until the Tropicana Field is under repaired.

[@Skullkeed]

ok but I guess they will change the name?? cause rays in UT doesn't make sense 😂😂

[@iloveowls90]

UNLESs of course its temporary

[@valvenus5715]

Utah jazz doesn’t make sense either but it still goes lol

[@Chris-em4fl]

No Portland should

[@jaredsharp4496]

Rays to the Praise

[@viewingstorm8930]

What if they relocate to Charlotte or Nashville?

[@dwjoseph59]

4 places mlb baseball moving too talks are becoming more regular: salt lake city, ut, naahville, tn, montreal, qc canada & portland, or.

[@99somerville]

If Utah will build them a stadium for free, that’s where they will go. Going to get more than the 312 million they wanted out of St. Pete.

[@SvanMagic]

Orlando will happen before SLC

[@NHLCrazy2007]

Just to educate Utahans once again... the Utah Hockey Club is a brand new franchise. Ryan Smith acquired the hockey assets from the now-dormant Arizona Coyotes team, namely the player roster, draft capital and some former Coyotes employees willing to relocate to Salt Lake City. For Utah, there is a new team history, records and identity. The team is completely disconnected from the Coyotes with the exception of the players, Bill Armstrong, André Tourigny and coaching staff. So please stop calling this a purely relocated team because it is not the case.

[@fuckeduphippie]

It was relocated… they wanted to leave solutions open for Arizona, but they RELOCATED their franchise to Utah. It’s a relocation. We are not ashamed of that.

[@RaySmith79]

It should be Montreal. Utah expos.

[@Steveshap]

No if anything it’ll be Nashville bc of what division they are in

[@BobBaker-v9v]

Lol. Orlando is making a bid for a team and that makes more sense than any place else

[@tringuyen7519]

Rays won’t stay in Tampa. They’re looking at offers from other cities like Nashville, TN & Salt Lake City, UT. Give the team a stadium, you’ll get the Rays!

[@9ine7even3hree]

Just give Utah a expansion team smh

[@nickolaslewis4416]

Let them go. The TB area hasn't supported the Rays and their attendance is embarrassing. If Utah wants the team and if the community wants them, they should go.

[@GodsLove4Howeverlong]

I like the Jazz Bball club And for Baseball to come to Utah would be cool...but I am a Mets fan since Keith Hernandez...Go Mets⚾️

[@ryanb4541]

I think the Rays should stay in the east as to not mess up the divisional alignment... North Carolina, Nashville or Orlando should be priority for evaluation for the Rays to relocate

[@mikebritcom3171]

Orlando would be another Miami. Never happen.

[@willp.8120]

@@mikebritcom3171 The Orlando metro area has more people than Salt Lake City.

[@mikebritcom3171]

@@willp.8120 SLC has Triple A baseball and NHL hockey and probably a basketball team too if you consider that to be a sport (I don't). Orlando no longer has any minor league baseball teams having lost Double-A and High-A teams in recent years and doesn't even have any spring training baseball...........because it didn't support it. Population doesn't matter when half of it is cutting the grass for or waiting on the other half.

[@sociosanch3748]

Uh, no

[@Chris6d]

Nashville or New Orleans, not Utah

[@gioruiz89]

Here’s an Idea, move the Rays to Vegas and leave the A’s in Oakland

[@PeruvianPotato]

Nah, Las Vegas A's ftw

[@AndreAllDay20]

No

[@Neckrollios18]

More likely Utah gets the As than the Rays. MLB doesn't want to realign their divisions if they don't have to.

[@mntwins28]

They'll have to realign when expansion happens

[@Neckrollios18]

@mntwins28 maybe, but at that point they may have to. What I'm saying is I think they want to keep the As out west, and the Rays in the east.

[@AcousticDuck9]

The Utah Stormin' Mormons

[@trumpcard4182]

Utah?!!? Jesus H Christ MLB

[@alfredhaugen2266]

Minnesota Twins are for sale by owner.

[@kramalerav]

The Utah Saints

[@michaelcharlesthearchangel]

Utah Gold, MLB team, and Salt Lake City Sasquatch (or Utah Sasquatch), NFL team.

[@RedTape812]

Chupacabra for nfl.

[@ElJefe-i7r]

Utah Devil Rays

[@ericlund2909]

Yes, but sense it's from the East, it does seem unlikely.

[@WWEFan16-]

Yes. I would love to come see the dodgers whoop whoever comes to Utah

[@Lak3rsfolife66]

If Utah got the Rays and they were in the AL it would basically be the teams only playing once a year and alternating home or away each year sadly.

[@scooley1515]

Utah Hurricane's..... Sorry sorry sorry!!

[@joncena168]

No!

[@Drummer8282]

They’re moving to Montreal.

[@mikebritcom3171]

to a stadium MLB escaped from 20 years ago? never happen.

[@Drummer8282]

@ as a temp home while a new park is constructed

[@willp.8120]

This is absurd. We here in the South, the country's most populated region, only have 5 teams. The South as a whole had 126,266,107 people as of the 2020 Census. There are many more now. The other regions are far less populated but all have more teams than the South. Make this make sense. Regions Populations: South: 126,266,107 people (5 teams) West: 78,588,572 people (8 teams) Midwest: 68,985,454 people (9 teams) Northeast: 57,609,148 people. (7 teams) Per capita: South: 1 team for every 25,253,221 people. West: 1 team for every 9,823,572 people Midwest: 1 team for every 7,665,050 people Northeast: 1 team for every 8,229,878 people If the South loses a team, then the South would only have 1 team for every 31,566,527 people, and that's based on Census 2020 figures which had a lower population than in 2024. This is beyond absurd. MLB should be relocating teams to the South, or at the least give us five new expansion teams. It is absurd that MLB has so few teams in the most populated region in the country. Utah has already recently gotten the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, taking advantage of their misfortunes due to their owner. Now Utah wants to take advantage of a region that is dealing with a loss due to hurricane damage? Utah cannot support that many franchises. As it is, the Salt Lake City market in NBA, MLS, and NHL combined make for the 22nd best market out of 23 markets in the USA with teams in at least three of the five big 5 sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS). It is also on the small side. The Rays should stay in the Tampa Bay region, or move to Orlando if they are going to move and stay in Florida, a state with about seven to eight times the population of Utah. Expansion should go to the cities of Charlotte, Nashville, Austin, and Raleigh assuming expansion has four teams.

[@jonm4501]

Florida is not a Baseball state, period!!!! Too effing hot in the summer. Playing indoors has no charm or ambiance.

[@PeruvianPotato]

​@@jonm4501 So why is baseball popular in the Caribbean then? A region even hotter than Florida

[@jonm4501]

@@PeruvianPotato From the fans standpoint.

[@traincndr1]

Saint Petersburg Florida is to blame 100% for this BS they don't wanna share the team with the fans in Hillsborough county Florida

[@turkeybowlwinkle4440]

If the Rays move out of Florida, which is unlikely, they would most likely end up in Nashville.