The Tampa Bay Rays have been attempting to find a workable solution as it comes to their stadium situation. Tropicana Field was outdated before the Rays even came into existence, and is consistently listed as one of the worst ballparks in the game. However, the Rays are stuck there until 2027 as that is when their lease runs out.
That does not mean that the Rays have just accepted this fate. They have been attempting to set up the future of their franchise, working to get a new stadium in the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area. When those attempts did not bear fruit, the Rays began to look towards Montreal, nominally with the idea of playing half the season there if a new ballpark was going to be built.
Tampa Bay Rays still eyeing Montreal
While there had not been much discussion about Montreal lately, the Rays have not forgotten about their hopes. They are reportedly planning to tout their plans of Montreal during the postseason, including a sign with a “simple” Tampa Bay/Montreal graphic that will be unveiled during the first playoff game at Tropicana Field this year.
There are plenty of hurdles for this plan to come to fruition. Both the Tampa Bay area and Montreal would need to have new open air stadiums in order for the sister city team ideal to happen. That will likely take years of negotiation and discussion before ground would break on those projects, if they would ever happen.
However, there is hope. Reports out of Montreal claim that a deal could be announced shortly after the city elections in November. Several Tampa Bay area officials are also voicing support for the plan, especially as the Rays maintain that this is the only way that they can remain viable in that region.
It is a lot to ask. The Rays would be splitting the season in two different countries, let alone cities, making housing a potential nightmare for their players. They are asking for two brand new stadiums which would only be used for a few months each out of the season. All it would take is for one city to balk, and that plan could be right out the door with the Rays picking the other location as their permanent home.
The Tampa Bay Rays are set on their sister city plan in future seasons. They remain determined to make Montreal happen.