ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Today, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that Major League Baseball’s Executive Council has rejected the Rays innovative Sister City plan. The Rays received preliminary approval from Major League Baseball in 2019 to pursue the plan that, upon realization, would have featured the team sharing its home games between Tampa Bay and Montreal in new open-air ballparks in each market.
The plan was designed to keep the team in Tampa Bay for generations, return baseball to Montreal, and significantly improve the team’s local revenues and player payroll capacity. The team would have taken advantage of the complementary weather patterns between the two regions, playing the beginning of the season in Tampa Bay and the latter portion in Montreal. This would have eliminated the need for enclosing the ballparks which dramatically reduces ballpark construction costs. Postseason games would have been shared across both regions.
For more than two and a half years, the Rays have worked to advance the Sister City plan both in Tampa Bay and Montreal including site identification and design of each ballpark. The Rays were also engaged in an extensive advocacy effort in Tampa Bay prior to Major League Baseball’s decision. With MLB’s rejection of the Sister City plan, the Rays are terminating its advocacy and pursuit. Rays Principal Owner Stu Sternberg said the news is very disappointing, and the Rays will continue to focus on the 2022 season.
“There is virtue in pursuing something you believe in, and I am proud of our efforts. I am determined that these years of pursuit and ingenuity will lead to something positive for our organization,” said Sternberg. “Our goal is and always has been—for the Rays to thrive here in Tampa Bay today and in future generations.”