Should Omaha make a run at the Tampa Bay Rays?

[schuele]

With the roof torn off that awful rodeo barn in St. Pete, the Rays need a temporary home. It's a long shot, but Omaha makes more sense than a lot of the other suggestions:

Stadium options for the Tampa Bay Rays

Take a swing, Omaha. Worst that can happen is they say no.

 

[3fingershomer]

With the roof torn off that awful rodeo barn in St. Pete, the Rays need a temporary home. It's a long shot, but Omaha makes more sense than a lot of the other suggestions:

Stadium options for the Tampa Bay Rays

Take a swing, Omaha. Worst that can happen is they say no.

Unlikely.
Tampa Bay is scheduled to start the 2025 season on March 27 at home vs. the Rockies. Not sure a warm weather team like TB is interested playing in Omaha at the end of March. IMO.

 

[Sodakred]

If they are ok with small crowds it might make sense. Not exactly the heart of Rays’ fan base. Also scheduling could be problematic vs some Spring Training sites in FLA.

 

[ridge222]

If they are ok with small crowds it might make sense. Not exactly the heart of Rays’ fan base. Also scheduling could be problematic vs some Spring Training sites in FLA.

I am guessing Omaha could get close to a 16,500 average for 81 games.

28

Tampa Bay

81​

1,337,739​

16,515​

0.0​

81​

29,891​

0.0​

162​

23,203​

0.0​

 

[3fingershomer]

If they are ok with small crowds it might make sense. Not exactly the heart of Rays’ fan base. Also scheduling could be problematic vs some Spring Training sites in FLA.

Yep. The Chuck is essentially unavailable the entire month of June due to the CWS.

 

[GBR_Atlanta]

It would be very cool. But I think there’s other major cities that would have a shot first. Charlotte NC or maybe even Rochester New York.

 

[TampaBaySkers]

I am guessing Omaha could get close to a 16,500 average for 81 games.

28

Tampa Bay

81​

1,337,739​

16,515​

0.0​

81​

29,891​

0.0​

162​

23,203​

0.0​

Omaha would get more fans than St Pete

 

[4norsemen]

If they are ok with small crowds it might make sense. Not exactly the heart of Rays’ fan base. Also scheduling could be problematic vs some Spring Training sites in FLA.

The Rays are the bottom in attendance. Avg 16,000. They would do that easily in Omaha I belive.

 

[huskerfan66]

With the roof torn off that awful rodeo barn in St. Pete, the Rays need a temporary home. It's a long shot, but Omaha makes more sense than a lot of the other suggestions:

Stadium options for the Tampa Bay Rays

Take a swing, Omaha. Worst that can happen is they say no.

They were discussing this on kfab this afternoon

 

[schuele]

They were discussing this on kfab this afternoon

Good to know - I think it's worth a shot. Odds are very long because Manfred seems determined to keep the Rays within a tight radius of their two-dozen loyal fans.

The CWS is a bit of an obstacle, but it's an 11-day event and some of those days only involve one game. If an MLB team actually wanted to play there, they would find a way to make it work.

 

[TampaBaySkers]

Tampa Bay has been spoiled with very good hockey, football and baseball programs and the fans don’t show like they should..

Buccaneers and lightning attendance has improved but baseball should go to a city that will appreciate it. Omaha would appreciate it

 

[BTF69]

Good to know - I think it's worth a shot. Odds are very long because Manfred seems determined to keep the Rays within a tight radius of their two-dozen loyal fans.

The CWS is a bit of an obstacle, but it's an 11-day event and some of those days only involve one game. If an MLB team actually wanted to play there, they would find a way to make it work.

Yeah, I really don't think that is that big of a deal. Even an 11 day road trip, while long, is not the end of the world. 3 three game series with a few days off and back to Omaha.

 

[schuele]

Yeah, I really don't think that is that big of a deal. Even an 11 day road trip, while long, is not the end of the world. 3 three game series with a few days off and back to Omaha.

The NCAA would gets its garments in a wad, but who cares? If you have a chance to host series with the Yankees and Red Sox in April and the Cubs, Cards, etc. later in the year, at least take a shot at it.