Rays Primary Owner Backs Away From Hanging Moving-To-Montreal Sign In Trop During Playoffs

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Outraged Tampa Bay Rays fans have persuaded team officials to shelve their plan to hang a sign that advertises a split season between Montreal and Tampa Bay during the playoffs at Tropicana Field.

Many fans were furious when team President Matt Silverman announced a podcast Saturday with Neil Solondz that he and Rays primary owner Stuart Sternberg were moving forward with plans to split the Rays season starting in 2028 with Montreal. He said a subtle announcement would be made through a sign advertising a Tampa Bay/Montreal graphic in the far right outfield next to the Feeding Tampa Bay sign.

A Patch reporter noticed the space reserved for that sign next to the Feeding Tampa Bay display in that section at Saturday night's game.

Fans complained about the sign and the future split season on Twitter and Facebook. Some said a split home season, which has never occurred in the history of Major League Baseball, felt like shared custody.

Patch reader Joel Martin of Bradenton replied on an article, "This is very concerning. What city would you have allegiance to? How would you play your playoff games or if you went to the World Series? What city would have a parade? Where would the trophies or pennants reside? Baseball is a connection with your town and your city. This would be the end of my support."

Coach Kevin Cash said in the postgame interview after the Rays clinched the AL East Division title that the support of the audience and the screaming and cheering for the Rays really helped the team win over the Marlins.

Fans on social media made it clear that a sign during the playoffs would distract everyone and the sign would make the fans feel slighted and not appreciated.

Sternberg apologized to fans Tuesday on a Rays pre-game show in Houston.

“I’m really here to speak directly to our fans today,” Sternberg said. “And to apologize, quite frankly. I’ve always said that baseball is meant to be fun and engaging and exciting. Brings a community together."

Following Silverman's announcement Sunday, Rays fans chanted, "Move to Tampa," according to 95.3 WDAE.

“I made a big mistake, a real mistake, in trying to promote our sister-city plan with a sign right now in our home ballpark. I absolutely should have known better. And really, I’m sorry for that. I’m here to tell ... the fans that the sign is not going to go up," Sternberg said.

Just because the sign isn't going up, it doesn't mean that they've nixed the split season plans with Montreal in 2028 after the Tropicana Field lease is up at the end of the 2027 season. April, May and part of June would be played in a new open-air ballpark in Tampa Bay, and then move into the Montreal area in June and spend rest of season there.

Rays tickets go on sale Thursday. First game of the American League Championship Division is scheduled Oct. 7, and is hosted by the Rays.