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Rays' possible move to new ballpark could mean relocation of training facilities

Rays would require a multi-field training complex near Ybor City under their sister city concept of playing in Tampa and MontrealGETTY IMAGES

A potential Rays move to a Ybor City stadium "could be accompanied by a relocation of the team's spring training and player development complex to Pasco County," according to Bowen & Frago of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said that the team is "interested in Pasco as a location for its training site." Rays officials said that the team plans to "play spring training games in the Ybor City stadium under their sister city concept of splitting the season with Montreal." The Rays "would still require a multi-field training complex near Ybor City." Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson said that the team is "considering possible Pasco County sites." Simpson said whether the complex would include a minor league stadium is "not known." Castor likened the ballpark to the Yankees player development site, which has "four baseball diamonds, an observation tower and fitness center on 14 acres leased from the Hillsborough Aviation Authority." The Rays have held spring training since '09 in Port Charlotte, where they have a lease that runs through spring '28. A spring training decision "would be subordinate to the Rays other tasks of finalizing plans for a $700 million stadium at the former Kforce site" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/10).

PARLEZ-VOUS FRANCAIS? In Tampa, John Romano writes whether people agree or disagree with the Rays' split-city concept with Montreal, it is "now being taken seriously by people who matter." None of this means the plan is a "done deal." The Rays still need to "get MLB's approval to actively begin this pursuit, they still need to get the players association to agree and they still need to build stadiums in both Montreal and Tampa." Still, it is a "significant step that the mayor's office is saying a financial plan could be forwarded to the Rays by the end of this month" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/10).

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