Could Rays, Yankees Farm Club Coexist In Tampa?

TAMPA, FL - Everyone agrees the question might be a bit premature. A Tampa site for a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays was just announced this week and the financial details are only now in the early stages. But it’s an interesting question to consider: Will the Rays and Yankees actually get along in the same town?

The Yankees moved their spring training home from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa in 1996 and their Class A farm team started playing at Legends Field, now George M. Steinbrenner Field, the same year. The Rays played their first major league game in St. Petersburg in 1998. Both Tampa and St. Pete vied for the major league franchise.

Now both cities are competing again - this time for the next home of the Rays. Hillsborough Commissioner Ken Hagan says he would be "very surprised" if the team did not announce by the end of the year that a Hillsborough County location between Ybor City and Channelside is the Rays preferred site for a new stadium.

A rendering of the potential Hillsborough stadium site shows a ballpark between Channelside Drive on the west and North 15th Street on the east.

The Rays outdated ballpark, Tropicana Field, is one of the sites being considered by St. Pete officials for construction of a new stadium. Other Pinellas sites also are possible.

Joe Henderson, a former longtime sports columnist at The Tampa Tribune, says the Rays/Yankees territorial question “is a nonissue.”

“Class A ball is what it is. It’s not going to impact one way or another.” he said.

Henderson said a Rays move across the bay “is for the greater good of baseball,” adding that it is inevitable if the financing issues can be resolved.

He said a move to Tampa will improve attendance for the Rays, citing the success of the Tampa Bay Lightning, which plays at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa.

The Rays will have more corporate support in Tampa than St. Pete, he said. “And we can finally stop talking about (low) attendance.”

“It’s not that St. Pete is a bad town. It’s just not the right location,” he said. “Everybody in baseball understands it has to happen. The Rays won’t be here if it doesn’t happen.”

So what would the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner think of the move?

Henderson said Steinbrenner, who was considered a dynamic community leader in Tampa, would have supported it.

“He would not care about the effect on the Tampa Yankees. He was a great leader in Tampa and would know it would be good for the whole area,” Henderson said.

The Yankees minor league club would be ideal in a smaller town like Winter Haven or Bartow, Henderson said. “They get swallowed up in a city this size,” he said.

Ronnie Lane, co-host of the Ronnie and TKras show on 620 WDAE, agreed that a Rays move to Tampa is necessary. Lane, a Pinellas resident, said a central Hillsborough site will be better for attendance and provide the Rays with more corporate support.

As for a major league club having a rival’s farm club only a few miles away? “I think it would work out, but it would be an oddity,” he said.

Hagan, who has been the key Hillsborough official in the stadium talks, said he saw no conflict between the Rays and Yankees.

“ I want to first say that the Yankees are wonderful community partners,” he said. “Tampa is very fortunate to be the team’s spring training home, and to be the home of their Single A affiliate, Tampa Yankees. (The Rays’ spring training home is in Port Charlotte.)

Hagan added: “Yes, I am confident that the Rays and Yankees can coexist in Tampa. As part of the Steinbrenner Field renovation agreement, the Yankees extended their lease, which ensures that we will remain their spring training home until 2046. While that does not guarantee the Tampa Yankees will remain in Tampa, with the renovations, it is highly unlikely the team will explore other cities. It does not make financial sense, since they just invested so much into Steinbrenner Field.”

About $40 million was spent on renovations to Steinbrenner Field with the cost split between the Yankees, Hillsborough County and the Tampa Sports Authority.

The Yankees have discussed moving the minor-league team for years. Possible deals for a move to other cities, such as Ocala, have fizzled in the past. A possible move by the minor league team would not affect the Yankees spring training games.

As for any territorial issues between the clubs, Hagan said:

“All I can say is that I have personally spoken with (MLB) Commissioner (Rob) Manfred, and he is excited about the possibility of the Rays next ballpark being in Tampa.”

Patch.com file photo