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Rays' Sternberg Remains Committed To Viability Of MLB In Tampa Bay Market

Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg yesterday said that he "remained committed and confident his team can be successful" in the Tampa Bay area, though he acknowledged that other team owners have "serious doubts about the viability" of the market, according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Sternberg said, "I'm high man on the belief that baseball can succeed down here and prosper. I have been all along. I remain that. I think people believe it could but, unfortunately, the support has waned over the last five, six years. But I'm going to do everything I can." He said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and the league office have a "lot of faith in me ... so they're willing to go along with me and give us every help that they can to make sure they see our vision here." However, Topkin reports other owners, "specifically those paying into the pool of revenue-sharing money the Rays get, are not necessarily on board." Sternberg: "The first thing ... I get told by the elders of the game and everybody in between, 'We knew it was never going to work in St. Petersburg. It's in the wrong location.' And I say to them, 'Well, what do you think about Tampa or further north?' (And they say,) 'Quite frankly, I don't even think it will even work in the area.'" Manfred said, "There are doubters in baseball. Florida has been a challenge for us. But I think we have great management here. ... The most important thing is Stu's palpable commitment to this market. He is a respected owner in the game" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/4). 

ON THE TO-DO LIST: A TAMPA BAY TIMES editorial wrote the area is "playing two games at once." One is "on the field, and the other is in conversations on both sides of the bay about a new stadium." The editorial listed six ways Manfred could "help preserve" MLB in Tampa, including paying respect to "how long and hard this region fought for its own franchise." The league also needs to "recognize that Tampa Bay is a different place today" than it was 20 years ago. Manfred should "imagine the possibilities" and "acknowledge this market is different." He also should "prepare to help pay" for a new ballpark and pursue "structural changes to baseball" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/2). 

THE BIGGER PICTURE: In Orlando, George Diaz writes the Rays' season is "merely a sidebar" to the issue of whether the team will "stick around long-term." Yesterday's sellout crowd of 31,042 for the Rays' season opener against the Blue Jays -- the 11th consecutive Opening Day sellout for the club -- was a "blip, an aberration." Diaz: "Check back with us on Monday when a third of the crowd will be the norm." While the Rays "have been highly competitive despite the lousy location," they "can't move the needle interest-wise" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/4).

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