Rays not giving up on 'incredible' sister-city plan

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https://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/mlb/rays/tampa-bay-ray-sister-city-plan-montreal/67-aa3a1dc8-bc8f-4c37-904e-1e719b401620

Rays not giving up on 'incredible' sister-city plan

Team President Matt Silverman thinks this proposal is the way to "prop up" the franchise.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays sure don't seem to be giving up on the idea of playing home games in two cities in the same season.

While St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriesman shot down the team's hopes last week of having a split-city operation in place by 2024, the Rays still believe the plan is the best path forward for a franchise that's always been on the cutting edge.

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/12/11/rays-sternberg-aim-is-montreal-split-plan-for-2028/

Rays’ Stuart Sternberg: Aim is Montreal split plan for 2028

Principal owner says staying full time in Tampa Bay remains unlikely, so the focus remains on sharing games with Montreal.

Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg talks with reporters during a briefing at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, California on December 10, 2019.

SAN DIEGO — Splitting future seasons in Montreal remains the most likely — and probably only — way to keep the Rays in the Tampa Bay area, principal owner Stuart Sternberg said Tuesday, calling the...

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/12/11/rob-manfred-says-rays-montreal-plan-still-possible-not-pleased-with-latest-delay/

Rob Manfred says Rays-Montreal plan still possible, not pleased with latest delay

MLB commissioner said it’s better for all to find a way to improve team revenues.

Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the Major League Baseball winter meetings Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO — MLB commissioner Rob Manfred had a few things to say Wednesday about the latest developments in the Rays stadium search and their focus on a season-sharing plan with Montreal.

He would...

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https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/12/11/rays-will-pursue-tampa-bay-montreal-split-in-2028/

Rays Will Pursue Tampa Bay/Montreal Split in 2028

Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg says his team will merely delay, but not scrap a planned Tampa Bay/Montreal split schedule until 2028, after the current Tropicana Field lease ends.

The Rays received permission from Major League Baseball to pursue a split season and approached St. Petersburg city officials about changes to the Tropicana Field lease allowing for the change. Earlier this month St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman halted talks for a split season between Montreal and Tampa under the current setup, saying that the team needs to adhere to its current Tropicana Field lease.

According to Sternberg, the process for planning a split schedule — and two new ballparks in both markets — will still take place, just without the contracted schedule needed for a 2024 debut of the plan. So that means a resumption of the search for a new Tampa Bay ballpark site in the next 12-24 months, as well as proceeding with the current plan for a Montreal ballpark. Both ballparks, it would appear, would be open-air ballparks, as there would be no need to shelter Montreal fans from cold weather in April or May and Tampa Bay fans from hot weather in July and August. This would, in theory, lower the price of both facilities. From the Tampa Bay Times:

But staying full time in the Tampa Bay area, in Pinellas or Hillsborough, remains the least likely solution given their failed previous attempts.

“I’m open to any conversation,” Sternberg said. “They’d have to show me why it would work. We did work previously, we spent years on it. Some of the really solid business leaders, earnestly, and in a caring fashion, tried to make it work. But if there’s a genie in a bottle somewhere that wants to show me why it would work — I just can’t envision it. You never say never, but I can’t envision it. It’s less than highly unlikely.”

And if they were to consider it, he said a Hillsborough site would “no doubt” be the choice over St. Petersburg, but Hillsborough options “don’t see to be viable enough” either. “It doesn’t get over the bar for full season,” he said. “Is it more (attractive) than St. Pete? Yes, because St. Pete is not happening.”

Cynics will say that planning for a split season is at least partially a negotiating ploy in an attempt to get a deal for new full-season ballpark in Tampa Bay. But, the planning will move forward, and it could very well be that a mayoral change in St. Pete would also change things. Moving the Rays full-time to Montreal is not on the table yet — Sternberg thinks there are better markets interested in MLB, but has not talked with investors in cities like Portland, Las Vegas or Nashville — and it sounds like the whole situation is still in flux.

RELATED STORIES: Kriseman: No Split Season for the Rays; Rays Advance Talks With St. Pete About Partial Montreal Move; Tampa Should Reopen Rays Ballpark Talks: Mayor; Manfred: Rays’ Split Season Pitch is Way to Keep Team in Tampa Bay; Bronfman: Rays Proposal is Key First Step to MLB Return to Montreal; New St. Petersburg Ballpark Could Factor into Rays Tampa Bay/Montreal Plan; Plenty of Obstacles to Tampa Bay/Montreal Plan; MLB: Rays Can Discuss Tampa/Montreal Split Season; Agreement Reached on Potential Montreal Ballpark Site; Vision for New Montreal MLB Ballpark: Anchor for Mixed-Use Development; Montreal Group Methodically Building Case for MLB’s Return; Political Reaction to Montreal MLB Ballpark Site: Mixed; Site Emerging for New Montreal MLB Ballpark; Report: Support High for MLB’s Return to Montreal; Quebec’s Main Parties Open to Partnering on New Montreal Ballpark

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/12/13/tampa-has-a-new-mayor-and-a-new-opportunity-to-woo-the-rays/

Tampa has a new mayor and a new opportunity to woo the Rays

John Romano | The Rays may be allowed to talk to Tampa again before the end of the Tropicana Field lease. It’s up to Mayor Jane Castor to convince them a full-time stadium can work in Hillsborough.

She has the jersey, she may soon have St. Pete's permission, now all Mayor Jane Castor needs is a plan to woo the Rays to play in a full-time stadium in downtown Tampa.

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays owner is unhappy. The baseball commissioner is disappointed. The St. Petersburg mayor is unmoved.

Strangely enough, this is what opportunity may look like.

The chilling...

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https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/food/2019/12/11/a-guide-to-tampa-bay-food-and-drink-events-this-weekend/

A guide to Tampa Bay food and drink events this weekend

Locals nabbed nods from the Golden Spoon Awards and Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer, plus two wine tastings and half-off Willie Jewell’s barbecue.

Tampa's Oak & Ola was one of two restaurants that the annual Golden Spoon Awards honored with its Best New title.

GOOD GRUB: GOLDEN SPOON AWARDS

The Golden Spoon Awards, back for another year, have recognized 21 restaurants across Tampa Bay. Announced in early December, these annual dining nods from the Times’...

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https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/popular-city-sandwiches-you-should-try-when-traveling

Popular city sandwiches you should try when traveling

3. Tampa, FL or Miami, FL: Cuban sandwich

The Cuban is a savory sandwich that begs you to take another bite. There are two versions of the sandwich (hence, the debate over its origin). Typically, it’s made with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard in between two slices of Cuban bread. The sandwich is then pressed down where the ingredients come together and melt in perfect harmony. This variation hails from Miami while Tampa’s version includes a layer of salami as well as the aforementioned fixings.

Like other sandwiches on this list, many say that the Cuban was born to feed hungry workers in the factories and mills in the late 1800s. While the debate between Miami and Tampa still lives on today, generally, it’s noted that Ybor City in Tampa was where the Cuban came into being.

So, where does one go to try this much-debated sandwich? Top restaurant picks include La Segunda Central Bakery and Columbia Restaurant, both located in Ybor City.

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https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/2019/12/11/top-things-to-do-in-tampa-bay-this-weekend-dec-13-15/

Top things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend: Dec. 13-15

CeeLo Green headlines the Winter Wonder Ride, plus holiday-themed runs and parades fill the calendar.

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https://thatssotampa.com/blind-tiger-coffee-opening-a-shop-at-sparkman-wharf/

Blind Tiger Coffee opening a shop at Sparkman Wharf

Who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee. We’re spoiled here in Tampa. Between King State, 22nd Street Coffee, Kahwa, Buddy Brew, Spaddy’s and a slew of other roasters, your options for a cup of Joe are endless. One of our favorite hangout spots, Blind Tiger, has expanded all over the Tampa Bay region since initially debuting in Ybor City. Now it’s time for location number 4, and this one will be at the ever popular Sparkman Wharf.

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https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/food-features/article/21105830/tampas-columbia-restaurant-is-named-on-opentables-top-20-most-booked-restaurants-for-christmas

Ybor's Columbia Restaurant is among country's 'Most Booked Restaurants for Christmas,' says report

All five locations in the Tampa Bay area are open this Christmas.

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https://hoodline.com/2019/12/5-events-worth-checking-out-in-tampa-this-weekend

5 events worth checking out in Tampa this weekend

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https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/new-home-for-african-american-history-museum-part-of-22nd-streets-redevelopment-plan-in-st-pete

New home for African-American history museum part of 22nd Street's redevelopment plan in St. Pete

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https://www.wxyz.com/sports/detroit-city-fc-officially-becomes-a-professional-soccer-team-with-u-s-soccer-approval

Detroit City FC officially becomes a professional soccer team with U.S. Soccer approval

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/fafa-picault-ready-to-start-new-chapter-of-career-with-fc-dallas/

Fafa Picault ready to start new chapter of career with FC Dallas

His job is to help stabilize a left wing position that was a revolving door for head coach Luchi Gonzalez in 2019

Picault brings a wealth of experience, starting in the Caligari academy before playing with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the then NASL. Picault spent five months with Spara Prague before going to Germany to play for FC St. Pauli. The 28-year-old has used that experience to help guide players, adding another veteran position in a Dallas locker room full of young, homegrown players.

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https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/developer-charlotte-city-leaders-talk-mls-plans-eastland-site/J3LF7YZVJRA6NLTLGFZZDQHDC4/

Developer, Charlotte city leaders talk MLS plans for Eastland site

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https://www.wcnc.com/video/news/politics/charlotte-makes-major-commitment-to-major-league-soccer/275-94aea918-4901-4ea6-95cf-569bd04eca03

Charlotte makes major commitment to Major League Soccer

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https://www.espn.in/football/major-league-soccer/story/4001208/when-does-the-2020-mls-season-begin-all-you-need-to-know

When does the 2020 MLS season begin? All you need to know

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https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/10530404/david-beckham-inter-miami-man-utd-van-der-sar-neville/

INTER THE UNKNOWN David Beckham gets Inter Miami tips from Ajax CEO and Man Utd legend Van der Sar with Gary and Phil Neville

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https://theathletic.com/1452481/2019/12/11/sources-miami-fc-to-join-usl-championship-replacing-ottawa-fury-in-2020/

Sources: Miami FC to join USL Championship, replacing Ottawa Fury in 2020

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http://theweeklychallenger.com/woodson-museum-moves-to-commerce-park-with-citys-1-million-pledge/

Woodson Museum moves to Commerce Park with city’s $1 million pledge

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https://dentondaily.com/historians-now-agree-ybor-citys-tunnels-were-built-as-sewers-not-smuggling-routes/

Historians now agree: Ybor City‘s tunnels were built as sewers, not smuggling routes

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/south-florida-officials-seeking-more-international-soccer/2019/12/13/81a93794-1e0e-11ea-977a-15a6710ed6da_story.html

South Florida officials seeking more international soccer

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2019/12/13/fall-back-cosmos-confirm-they-will-compete-in-nisas-2020-fall-season/

FALL BACK: Cosmos confirm they will compete in NISA’s 2020 fall season

Dec 13, 2019 | New York Cosmos |

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https://www.fccincinnati.com/post/2019/12/13/superdraft-usoc-changes-ahead-20

SuperDraft, USOC changes ahead in ‘20

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https://patch.com/florida/southtampa/snow-fall-ybor-city-weekend-during-annual-parade

Snow To Fall On Ybor City This Weekend During Annual Parade

The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce is hosting its eighth annual Snow on 7th Parade featuring 10 middle and high school marching bands.

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https://www.wtsp.com/article/life/holidays/snow-on-7th-parade/67-f827ea53-626c-4686-ad1d-c5ff2a0200ae

'Snowfall' expected Saturday in Ybor City

The 8th Annual Snow on 7th Parade is taking place Saturday night.

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https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/tampa-road-closures-for-snow-on-the-7th-parade

Tampa road closures for Snow on the 7th Parade

TAMPA, Fla. — Traffic will be heavier in Ybor City on Saturday as the Snow on 7th Parade takes place.

City officials say drivers and pedestrians should allow for extra travel time and travel with caution in the area.