Breakthrough in Rays’ stadium issue? Maybe the start of one

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https://www.yoursun.com/venice/breakthrough-in-rays-stadium-issue-maybe-the-start-of-one/article_1cfa211a-4f31-11ea-9978-e79dfd77f375.html

Breakthrough in Rays’ stadium issue? Maybe the start of one

Was that the sound of a breakthrough that came from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s office on Monday?

I refer to what seems like the never-ending story of a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. Castor and Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan met for 2½ hours with Rays’ owner Stu Sternberg.

Afterward, glory be! Both camps sounded positive.

That’s not to say shovels will start digging in Ybor City by next week, not even close. But after years of what you could politely call acrimony between the Rays and officials in both Tampa and St. Peterburg, this was a different tone.

“I’m optimistic about it,” Castor said in the Tampa Bay Times. “The Rays want to stay in the Tampa Bay area. We want to keep them in the Tampa Bay area, and we’re going to do everything that we can with the caveat that the citizens’ appetite of paying for a stadium is about zero at this point.”

And the Rays chimed in with a statement that read, “Today, we took a meaningful step toward securing the future of Rays baseball in Tampa Bay beyond 2027. We appreciate Mayor Castor and Commissioner Hagan’s leadership and look forward to a continued dialogue with City and County stakeholders.

“We remain focused on the sister city concept and unwavering in our commitment to work in partnership with the community as this process moves forward.”

About the only time we hear the Rays utter the word “meaningful” is when they talk about playing “meaningful” games in September because they’re in playoff contention. So, that’s cool.

But, let’s take a little deeper dive into this, shall we?

First, let’s give Sternberg considerable credit.

He has managed to sound utterly serious about his wackadoodle “sister city” plan. That’s where the Rays would play half the season in the Tampa Bay area and the other half in Montreal starting in 2027. Keeping a straight face couldn’t have been easy. Sternberg has flatly stated that keeping the Rays full-time in Tampa Bay is not an option.

Or is it?

While Castor said the discussion focused on the split-season concept, “I don’t think the full season (in Tampa) is off the table yet.”

I don’t believe so either.

I’ll even go a step further and predict one of two things will happen:

The Rays agree to a full-time home in Tampa, and Montreal receives an expansion team;

The Rays move lock, stock, and Kevin Kiermaier to Montreal, and we all get on with our lives.

Why?

The logistic issues of the split season idea are monumental.

Players and staff would need two residences. The players union would have to agree. MLB owners could — and probably would — decide to sell the Montreal expansion market to the highest bidder and pocket all the cash themselves. There’s also the issue of taxes. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there is no state income tax in Florida.

In Quebec? Get ready to write two pretty large checks.

As Montreal International noted, “In order to fund the numerous public services that make life so pleasant in Greater Montréal, all residents earning an income are required to pay taxes to the governments of Québec and Canada.”

The federal tax in Canada is 33% for those making more than $202,800 (hint: That’s every player in Major League Baseball). The Quebec tax is 25.75% for those making more than $103,915.01.

That will go over well with everyone, right?

And we’ve seen the complexities of getting a stadium in one city. This plan hinges on the Rays getting two.

That brings us back to my prediction.

Baseball will do almost anything to avoid moving a franchise. Granted, Tampa Bay fans are putting that theory to an extreme test. We know how lousy attendance has been at Tropicana Field.

I say again, though, that the Trop’s location is the reason for that problem. In Tampa, the Rays would have a fighting chance at competitive attendance. Just look at the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. It has sold out every home game since the 2014-15 season.

That says something about the importance of location in this market.

So, as the Rays head to Port Charlotte for spring training, maybe there is some hope for a positive end to a long-running problem. We can dream.

If not, c’est la vie.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/f4xasv/stream_timestamps_of_montreal_game_that_act_as/

Stream timestamps of Montreal game that act as highlights

Highlights

Penalty Shout for Handball: https://youtu.be/Gav_2dJIS8M?t=2899
VAR Check: https://youtu.be/Gav_2dJIS8M?t=2959
Goal 1: https://youtu.be/Gav_2dJIS8M?t=3055
Goal 2: https://youtu.be/Gav_2dJIS8M?t=7181
Penalty on Lasso: https://youtu.be/Gav_2dJIS8M?t=8653
MTL Goal: https://youtu.be/Gav_2dJIS8M?t=8704

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/f3xj22/match_preview_suncoast_invitational_day_one/

Match Preview: Suncoast Invitational Day One

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https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/1087261

MATCH PREVIEW: SUNCOAST INVITATIONAL DAY ONE

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/f3fivg/hot_kyle_murphy_goal_against_the_purples_last/

HOT Kyle Murphy goal against the Purples last night...

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https://twitter.com/TampaBayRowdies/status/1228037779294244864

Tampa Bay Rowdies
@TampaBayRowdies
.
@kmurph_19
 running circles around defenders to score a goal in Orlando last night 😱😱
0:05
2:26 PM · Feb 13, 2020·Twitter for iPhone

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/f39a3z/visiting_for_the_usl_academy/

Visiting for the USL Academy

Hey y'all a few of us NC folks are coming down for the USL Academy event this weekend. Will be going to the Rowdies pre-season game on Saturday, down to link up before/during/after. Will have a few scarves for trading as well.

Sounds good!

I imagine folks will be tailgating in the parking lot before the Montreal game, and Thirsty First was the pregame bar last season so you'll probably find some Mobsters hanging out there too.

Let us know if you've got any questions about things to do/places to see.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/f2yhpb/rowdies_to_host_norwich_city_u23s_in_visit_tampa/

Rowdies To Host Norwich City U23s In Visit Tampa Bay Cup This July

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https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/1086613

ROWDIES TO HOST NORWICH CITY U23S IN VISIT TAMPA BAY CUP THIS JULY

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https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/f1vrub/rowdies_top_unf_20_in_preseason_friendly/

Rowdies Top UNF 2-0 In Preseason Friendly

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https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/1085715

ROWDIES TOP UNF 2-0 IN PRESEASON FRIENDLY

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2020/02/10/tampa-bay-rays-say-theyre-pursuing-dual-city.html

Tampa Bay Rays say they're pursuing dual city concept with Tampa and Hillsborough County

Tampa Bay Rays Principal owner Stuart Sternberg signs a banner promoting the team's relocation to Ybor City.

The Tampa Bay Rays are now discussing their split-season concept with Tampa and Hillsborough County.

The team on Monday issued a statement that it had met with city and county leaders.

“Today, we took a meaningful step toward securing the future of Rays baseball in Tampa Bay beyond 2027," the Rays said in a statement. "We appreciate Mayor Jane Castor and Commissioner Ken Hagan’s leadership and look forward to a continued dialogue with city and county stakeholders. We remain focused on the sister city concept and unwavering in our commitment to work in partnership with the community as this process moves forward.”

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg first pitched splitting the season between St. Petersburg and Montreal in June 2019. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman — who publicly dismissed the idea of a split-season from the get-go — announced that the city had ended negotiations with the team in early December.

A Kriseman spokesman declined comment Monday.

"I continue to be optimistic about the Rays," Castor said in a statement. "I look forward to continued collaboration and conversations with the Rays and the county on ways we can move forward to keep baseball, this beloved pastime, in the region."

The Rays had previously targeted a site between downtown Tampa's Channel district and Ybor City for a stadium, unveiling a futuristic, glass-domed stadium in July 2018. But the big announcement did not include any sort of financing plans, and the team was unable to reach a deal with city and county leaders.

Hagan's plan to relaunch a discussion with the Rays first went public in August 2019, when he proposed an entertainment district in Ybor that could be home to a part-time Major League Baseball stadium.

Former Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn, who left office in May 2019, told the Business Journal that moving the Rays to Tampa was a "tough deal." The previous negotiations, which were for a full-time stadium in Tampa, ended in late 2018.

"You’ve gotta be kind of cold-hearted about it because as much as I’d love to have them here and I think it would do great things for downtown, it was an expensive transaction," Buckhorn said of the previous Rays negotiations. "And that was not your typical deal. Professional sports, in these circumstances, are more akin to municipal extortion than anything because it’s pure supply and demand."

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auWaklmIpfc

2018 Rowdies Suncoast Invitational - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Philadelphia Union

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Rowdies Suncoast Invitational 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Philadelphia Union
Feb 24, 2018
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gav_2dJIS8M

2020 Rowdies Suncoast Invitational - Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Montreal Impact

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Rowdies Suncoast Invitational 2020
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Montreal Impact
Feb 15, 2020
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/15/mls-preseason-2020-montreal-impact-fall-2-1-tampa-bay-rowdies-final-ccl-warmup

MLS Preseason 2020: Montreal Impact fall 2-1 to Tampa Bay Rowdies in final CCL warmup

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https://www.themaneland.com/2020/2/15/21137743/lions-links-2-15-20

Lions Links: 2/15/20

Dom Dwyer injured, Orlando Pride add a veteran goalkeeper, Orlando SeaWolves lose, and more.

Dom Dwyer Injured

In a painfully familiar story, Orlando City forward Dom Dwyer didn’t participate in training yesterday and is week-to-week thanks to a lower body injury. While the details of the injury are unknown, it could be why he didn’t participate in the team’s 2-1 preseason win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this week. It’s disappointing news considering Dwyer’s hunger to return to the field and excel after a rough season last year.

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https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1087422

Jason Kreis Named Head Coach of Fort Lauderdale CF

CLUB UNVEILS FULL COACHING STAFF AND FIRST TEN PLAYERS

Kreis will be joined by Martin Paterson, Chris Barocas, and Mateus Manoel on Fort Lauderdale CF’s coaching staff this season.

Paterson, who will serve as Kreis’ assistant, is a former member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies coaching staff where he helped the USL Championship side make the playoffs in 2019. As a player, Paterson spent the majority of his career with Burnley Football Club in England and made several appearances for the Northern Ireland National Team.

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https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1087539

PRESEASON REPORT: Guenzatti Leads Rowdies Past Impact

2019 LEADING SCORER NOTCHES BRACE AS TAMPA BAY DEFEATS MONTREAL IN SUNCOAST INVITATIONAL

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/16/montreal-impact-coach-thierry-henry-talks-preparation-first-concacaf-champions

Montreal Impact coach Thierry Henry talks preparation for first Concacaf Champions League venture

"It's gonna be a tough one," Henry said after Montreal's 2-1 preseason defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship on Saturday. "Them being already 10 games into their season and us battling a couple of injuries and trying to find our fitness. But it is what it is, that's how the season starts. That's not the way you wanted to end [preseason], you wanted to have maybe more wins. You would have liked to have more goals maybe. But we created [chances], so that's the positive side. It's going to be tough, I'm not going to lie, especially how we're arriving there against a team that's won it three times."

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https://infosurhoy.com/top-stories/david-beckhams-inter-miami-lose-key-legal-battle-with-serie-a-giants-inter-milan/

David Beckham’s Inter Miami ‘lose key legal battle with Serie A giants Inter Milan’

David Beckham’s new Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami may be forced to change their name after losing a key legal battle with Serie A side Inter Milan just weeks before their first ever competitive game.

The Italian giants have taken legal action against the MLS for trademark infringement, arguing that the term ‘Inter’ is synonymous with their club.

Milan filed a US Patent and Trademark application in 2014 to make ‘Inter’ its exclusive brand in the United States but last year the MLS lodged a motion of opposition to the club’s claim.

However, according to Law.com, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) dismissed the MLS’s ‘likelihood of confusion’ claim this week – one of their two key legal arguments.

Law.com report that ‘The USPTO ruled that the MLS’s assertion that there are a number of clubs around the world that use Inter in their name – such as SC Internacional (Brazil), FC Inter Turku (Finland), NK Inter Zapresic (Croatia) and Inter Leipzig (Germany) – did not meet its burden to show that MLS has valid proprietary, or ownership, of the name Inter.’

It is a decision that the MLS are expected to appeal, although the report states that they have little chance of their ‘likelihood of confusion’ argument being reconsidered.

Milan filed an immediate notice to dismiss and the legal battle is expected to continue later this year.

The MLS have consistently refuted Milan’s arguments and say that ‘Inter’ is descriptive and is commonly used by football sides worldwide.

In a trademark dispute document filed by the league last March, the MLS contended: ‘The use of ‘INTER’ is merely descriptive of Inter Milan and its goods and services, relying on the grounds laid by examining attorneys.

‘The term ‘INTER’ is short for ‘international’ and ‘INTER’ is commonly used to describe football teams.

‘Because of the widespread use of the term ‘INTER’ in soccer, the relevant consumers do not associate the term ‘INTER’ with one soccer team; ‘INTER’ by itself is not a source indicator in connection with goods and services associated with soccer, ‘INTER’ has not become distinctive as used on, or in connection with, the applicant’s goods and services in the United States.’

Beckham has faced a number of hurdles to get his MLS project off the ground and this dispute is just the latest.

Miami had struggled to find a stadium before their long search came to an end in March 2019 when it was announced that the new franchise would play home games at a renovated Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Inter Miami’s first pre-season training camp started last month ahead of their first Major League Soccer game on March 1, against Los Angeles Football Club.

They then meet DC United at Audi Field before hosting their first ever match at the Inter Miami stadium in Fort Lauderdale against Beckham’s former club, Los Angeles Galaxy.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/10973935/beckham-inter-miami-lose-victoria-london/

BECK FOR IT David Beckham misses Inter Miami defeat in their first ever match as he flies to London for Victoria’s fashion show

DAVID BECKHAM missed Inter Miami's first ever match as he flew to London to attend Victoria's fashion show.

The England legend's new club lost their opening game 2-1 in front of just a handful of fans at the Al Lang Stadium in St Petersburg, Florida.

Inter Miami will make not make their Major League Soccer bow until March 1 when they take on LA Galaxy.

But the 44-year-old's new team were put through their paces in a pre-season clash against Philadelphia Union.

And without support from the Manchester United legend on the sidelines, the MLS newbies got off to a disastrous start.

Beckham shared snaps of himself basking in the Miami sunshine on Saturday before he jetted back to England.

The 44-year-old flew to the capital to support his wife with her latest adventure in the fashion industry.

Victoria, 45, put on an amazing display as she showcased her latest VB AW20 during London Fashion Week.

Becks shared snaps of himself alongside children Cruz, Romeo and Harper before the event.

Speaking to his 60.8million followers on Instagram, he said: "Show time @victoriabeckham... My babies looking pretty cool right now."

Beckham sent fans wild as he shared a picture of Inter Miami's new pink and black stadium earlier this month.

But the stands were almost empty as they played their first match at their temporary home.

Inter Miami will play their MLS campaign at the Fort Lauderdale Stadium - which has been used by various football teams and American football sides - until Miami Freedom Park is completed around 2022.

SunSport exclusively revealed this week that Beckham has signed a £180million deal with Qatar to sponsor his new club.

But his club could be forced into changing their name already after losing a legal dispute with Inter Milan.

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https://infosurhoy.com/sports/inside-inter-miamis-brand-new-training-complex-ahead-of-first-game/

Inside Inter Miami’s brand new training complex ahead of first game

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https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/16/the-overnight-what-to-do-in-tampa-if-youre-not-a-beach-person.html

The Overnight: What to do in Tampa if you’re not a beach person

H/O: Tampa Overnight:Mural
Mural in Tampa, Fla.
Courtesy of Visit Tampa.

Miami and Orlando may be the tourist destinations that come to mind when travelers think of Florida, but Tampa is becoming a rival. It’s also a popular convention destination, so you may find yourself there on business.

If that’s the case, and you don’t have the time or the inclination to make it to the beaches that the area is known for, you aren’t out of options: The city has its own appeal beyond water activities, with Cuban cuisine, craft beer, sports and a laid-back culture that celebrates pirates and cigars.

“Business travelers are the bread and butter of Tampa Bay’s visitation,” said Santiago Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, adding that “they’ll find the city designed to please and easy to explore.”

Anchored by a riverfront convention center and the 2.6-mile-long Riverwalk, Tampa’s downtown district and surrounding neighborhoods offer people plenty of ways to spend free time outside a business meeting.

Here are some ideas to help you make the most of a few extra hours in Cigar City.

Where to go

Start the day with a walk or run on the Riverwalk, a 2.6-mile-long pedestrian trail along the Hillsborough River. The bronze and marble busts you’ll pass are part of the Historical Monument Trail, which honors 30 people who played an important role in the city’s history.

Riverwalk trail in Tampa, Fla.
Courtesy of Visit Tampa.

Say yes to a breakfast meeting at Oxford Exchange, housed in a restored 1891 building near the downtown University of Tampa campus. This hip, club-inspired space houses a bookstore, a champagne bar, coffee and tea bars, a coworking space and a restaurant that has an art-filled main dining room, a conservatory with a retractable roof and a menu that includes everything from healthy kale scrambles to sinful Nutella babkas.

The University of Tampa, across the street, has two attractions worth a visit:

A plaque honors Babe Ruth’s longest home run (587 feet), hit on April 4, 1919 at what was then Plant Field, during a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants.

The Henry B. Plant Museum is here, too, housed in the former south wing of the opulent 511-room Tampa Bay Hotel, built in the early 1880s. Now a National Historic Landmark, the museum offers a glimpse at the hotel’s original furnishings that wealthy guests were able to enjoy before the hotel closed in the early 1930s.

For more art and history, stop at the Tampa Bay History Center or the Tampa Museum of Art. Both are easily accessible from the Riverwalk. The history museum closes daily at 5 p.m., but the onsite Columbia Café, an informal outpost of the iconic Ybor City restaurant, stays open much later. The art museum stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings, when admission is “pay-as-you-will.”

Cuban sandwiches, cigars and chickens

If you have a few hours in the afternoon, explore the compact and historic Ybor City neighborhood, northeast of downtown Tampa.

Get there by Uber or the free TECO Line Streetcar. Stop at the Visitor Information Center to get a map, make way for the community’s free ranging chickens and “be sure to see the iconic Cuban Club, one of the social clubs that provided aid, comfort, recreation and health care to the Cuban population,” says Lonnie Herman, owner of Ybor City History Walking Tours. Jose Marti Park, on the only Cuban-owned land in the United States, is a must-see stop as well, says Herman, as is Tabanero Cigars, “where you can get a Cuban coffee and see cigars being hand-rolled.”

Ybor City Cigars
Courtesy: Visit Tampa

Better yet, join one of Herman’s scheduled tours. He’s got the keys and the behind-the-scenes stories for many of Ybor City’s historic buildings.

Before leaving Ybor City, stop for lunch at Columbia, the iconic Spanish and Cuban restaurant that first opened in 1905 and is well-known for its traditional take on the cuban sandwich it calls “The Mixto.” What started as a 60-seat café is now a block-long destination with 15 dining rooms, seating for 1,700 and a flamenco dancing show every night except Sunday.

Other places to eat and drink

Tampa is well known for craft beers made by Cigar City Brewing, Coppertail Brewing and others. Stop by their respective taprooms or try one of the 34 rotating beer selections on tap at the outdoor Fermented Reality Biergarten at Sparkman Wharf. In addition to dining and retail outlets in colorfully painted shipping containers this area is home to Splitsville, an upscale restaurant and gaming center with ping pong, billiards, foosball, darts and shuffleboard.

And for a unique, luxe, old-world dining experience, be sure to make a reservation way in advance at Bern’s Steak House, across the street from the Epicurean hotel.

The eight-dining-room, 350-seat food palace has a world-famous wine cellar and an entire floor just for desserts and after-dinner drinks.

Sparkman Wharf in Tampa, Fla.
Courtesy of Visit Tampa

Where to Stay

Convention and business travelers may land in a big downtown hotel, such as the 260-room Embassy Suites Tampa Downtown; the 520-room Hilton Tampa Downtown, or the 727-room Tampa Marriott Water Street, home to the Anchor and Brine bar and restaurant which has both lobby seating and terrace dining on the Riverwalk. New hotels, such as the 519-room J.W. Marriott, are being readied in advance of Super Bowl LV, which Tampa will host in 2021.

Tampa’s list of boutique hotels is growing, too. A century old former federal courthouse now houses Le Méridien Tampa. And there are two Autograph Collection hotels: the Current, with panoramic Tampa Bay views and a rooftop bar; and the food-and-wine-themed Epicurean, in the Hyde Park district, which boasts a rooftop bar, a culinary classroom and the elegant Élevage restaurant. In the lobby bar, guests may order a Dram ’n Shine, consisting of Glenfiddich 12-year Scotch, a craft ice cube and a complimentary shoeshine.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2020/02/14/50-reasons-to-love-the-tampa-bay-area/

50 reasons to love the Tampa Bay area

We asked, you answered. Here’s why our readers enjoy living here so much.

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2020/02/14/lou-piniella-headlines-guests-at-tampa-baseball-history-event/

Lou Piniella headlines guests at Tampa baseball history event

Homeruns & History event on Saturday in Ybor City will benefit the still-in-the-works Tampa Baseball Museum.

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https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/the-yorkshire-post-magazine/travel/jump-car-adventure-tour-exploring-sunshine-state-florida-1741326

Jump into a car for an adventure tour exploring the ‘Sunshine State’ of Florida

Twenty-six years ago at the tender age of 16, I embarked on a dream family holiday to Orlando, Florida.

After working up an appetite, lunch was enjoyed at Columbia restaurant in the picture-perfect town of Celebration, where we sampled a selection of the Spanish tapas plates which included ‘Empanadas de Picadillo’, ‘Stuffed Piquillo Peppers’ and the delicious ‘Ybor City Devil Crab Croquettes’.

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https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/business/article240328031.html

Past owner of Ybor’s Tamborello Service Station, dead at 73

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https://www.sarasotapost.com/business/2972-bunny-pirates-of-cortez-has-some-exciting-news

Bunny & Pirates of Cortez Has Some Exciting News

And more big news. Skullywag’s Coffee Bar is now open! Serving up the best cup of joe around! Their beans are locally roasted in Ybor City, always fresh and has a smooth and tasty finish. Enjoy an Espresso, Latte, Cappuccino, Americano, Cafe Con Leche and more. Consume a book, surf the news on their free WIFI or play a game with friends in the backyard garden.

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https://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa/2020/02/15/judge-strikes-down-tampa-hotel-room-fee/

Judge strikes down Tampa hotel room fee

The $1.50 per-room per-night assessment was created in 2017 to market downtown and Ybor City hotels. Florida House leaders successfully argued it was illegal.

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https://www.islandpacket.com/news/business/article240328031.html

Past owner of Ybor’s Tamborello Service Station, dead at 73

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https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/openings-closings/article/21116193/threestory-food-hall-planned-for-st-pete-a-new-brewery-in-gulfport-and-more-local-foodie-news

Three-story food hall planned for St. Pete, a new brewery in Gulfport and more local foodie news

New taco shops for St. Petersburg, Riverview and Gulfport, too.

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https://news.yahoo.com/celebration-honoring-tampas-baseball-history-191124251.html

Celebration honoring Tampa's baseball history, superstars

Tampa's storied roots in professional baseball is spotlighted today at a celebration at Centennial Park on 8th Avenue in Ybor City.

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https://theathletic.com/1609548/2020/02/14/understanding-the-cas-ruling-on-the-battle-for-promotion-and-relegation-in-the-u-s/

Understanding the CAS ruling on the battle for promotion and relegation in the U.S.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CSA), the Swiss-based tribunal seen as the last stop adjudicating international sporting disputes, recently handed down a long awaited ruling in a case which threatened to upend the structure of soccer in the United States.

In 2017, The Miami FC, a second-division side currently in the United Soccer League (USL), and Kingston Stockade FC a semi-professional club playing in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) petitioned CAS to essentially force FIFA to implement promotion and relegation in the United States.

The story begins in 2007. A controversy arose when a Spanish second-division team was sold, then the new owners decided to move the team 250 miles away and change its name from Ciudad de Murcia to Granada 74. The twist was that the team wanted to keep its second division status. The Spanish FA attempted to stop this, but lost after the dispute was heard by CAS. To prevent such incidents in the future, FIFA instituted...

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https://www.sounderatheart.com/2020/2/14/21137288/nashville-sc-reached-a-stadium

Major Link Soccer: Nashville SC reached a stadium agreement

After one appeared to be reached but then a new mayor broke it off, Nashville SC has a new stadium deal that is fully privately financed.

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https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5286048/celtic-lewis-morgan-david-beckham-inter-miami/

AMERICAN DREAM Ex-Celtic ace Morgan says David Beckham welcomed him to Inter Miami

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https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/report-montreal-group-close-becoming-rays-minority-shareholder/

Report: Montreal group close to becoming Rays minority shareholder

Stephen Bronfman, right, and Pierre Boivin speak to the media about the prospect of Major League baseball returning to Montreal Wednesday, June 26, 2019 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/CP)

A man trying to bring Major League Baseball back to Montreal says his group of local business people is close to becoming minority shareholders in the Tampa Bay Rays.

In an interview with the Journal de Montréal‘s Réjean Tremblay published on Saturday, Stephen Bronfman said he and the Rays are just months away from a partnership.

“Over the next few months, maybe three or four without a doubt, our group in Montreal will become co-owners of the Tampa team with Stuart Sternberg, the current owner of the Rays,” Bronfman told the Journal de Montréal. “The negotiations are very advanced. We’re going to become minority shareholders, but that doesn’t bother us at all. Stuart Sternberg is a straight-up man who’s nothing like Jeffrey Loria (former owner of the Expos).”

Bronfman and his group have been trying for over a year to bring MLB back to the Quebec city for the first time since 2004 when the then-Expos moved to Washington and became the Nationals.

Sternberg responded to the report at spring training on Saturday saying it’s not true.

“Eventually, at a point, I would expect and believe they could and would become minority partners. … I need some representation up there,” he told the Tampa Bay Times. “But there’s nothing happening in months. No way.”

A proposal last year from Sternberg would have seen the Rays splitting home games with Montreal as early as 2024, although the idea was squashed by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman.

With attendance a persistent issue at Tampa’s home ballpark, Tropicana Field, finding an alternative has been something the team’s ownership group has pursued.

Sternberg said at the MLB’s Winter Meetings in December that the half-and-half plan will happen in 2028 once the team’s agreement at Tropicana Field is over.

Bronfman, meanwhile, has been busy in Montreal trying to make sure the city is ready for the potential return and has worked on securing land near the downtown’s Peel Basin to build a stadium. Bronfman and the Rays will formally present MLB with plans for a shared city concept later this year.

“It’s huge, it’s a concept completely new and we will adventure on the seas that haven’t been explored,” Bronfman told the Journal de Montréal. “It’s very exciting.”

However, Sterberg told the Times that nothing would happen with Montreal until shovels are in the ground and the new stadium is being built.

The Toronto Blue Jays will be playing a pair of exhibition games in Montreal once again this year at Olympic Stadium against the New York Yankees.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://nationalpost.com/sports/baseball/tampa-bay-rays-owner-shoots-down-report-on-montreal-baseball-project/wcm/30754762-def5-499c-87cb-f6b5bd53b114

Tampa Bay Rays owner shoots down report on Montreal baseball project

Says Stephen Bronfman's group isn't close to becoming minority shareholders and wouldn't until construction would begin on a new stadium.

Montreal baseball fans were briefly given some hope about a team coming back soon when Stephen Bronfman told the Journal de Montréal his group of local business people was close to becoming minority shareholders in the Tampa Bay Rays.

The story, written by Réjean Tremblay and published in Saturday’s Journal, had Bronfman saying he and the Rays were only months away from a partnership.

“Over the next few months, maybe three or four without a doubt, our group in Montreal will become co-owners of the Tampa team with Stuart Sternberg, the current owner of the Rays,” Bronfman told the Journal. “The negotiations are very advanced. We’re going to become minority shareholders, but that doesn’t bother us at all. Stuart Sternberg is a straight-up man who’s nothing like Jeffrey Loria (former owner of the Expos).”

Stephen Bronfman (right) and his father, Charles, attend press conference celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Expos on May 21, 2019. Pierre Obendrauf / Montreal Gazette
But later in the day, Sternberg said the Journal story wasn’t true and Bronfman was incorrect in saying negotiations were already underway and a sale could be completed in three to four months.

“It isn’t true,” Sternberg told Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times at the Rays’ spring-training facility in Port Charlotte, Fla.. “Eventually, at a point, I would expect and believe they could and would become minority partners. … I need some representation up there. But there’s nothing happening in months. No way.”

Topkin reported if a “radical” plan to have the Rays split seasons between Tampa and Montreal starting in 2028 were to happen, Sternberg would expect to sell a minority interest in the team to the Montreal group.

Topkin reported last year St. Petersburgh Mayor Rick Kriseman shot down a proposal to have the Rays start splitting home games between Tampa and Montreal as early as 2024, and Sternberg said at the MLB Winter meetings in December it could happen in 2028 once the Rays’ agreement at Tropicana Field is over.

The plan to have the Rays split games between Tampa and Montreal would include new open-air stadiums being built in both cities with agreements in place by the end of this year. Sterberg told the Times he wouldn’t sell part of the Rays until construction had actually begun on a new Montreal ball park with shovels in the ground.

“It wouldn’t happen before then,” Sternberg told the Times. “Zero chance it would happen before then.”

(Follow link for full article.)

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It’s a struggle to keep anti-Castro fires burning for Tampa’s aging Casa Cuba

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(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa/2020/02/10/jane-castor-is-optimistic-after-long-chat-with-rays/

Jane Castor ‘optimistic’ Tampa could share Rays with Montreal in 2028

Tampa’s mayor and Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan met with Rays owner Stu Sternberg to discuss Tampa — not St. Petersburg — as the team’s future Tampa Bay home.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, left, Rays President Brian Auld, center and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor right, before a game at Tropicana Field in October. Tampa is emerging as an option for the Rays to split the season in Tampa Bay and Montreal. [DIRK SHADD | Times]

TAMPA — Hillsborough and Tampa leaders and the Tampa Bay Rays — including owner Stu Sternberg — set an aggressive timeline for reaching a deal to move the team across the bay in 2028.

The end of the year.

It’s an ambitious plan that requires a sign-off by both the Montreal group headed by Stephen Bronfman and Major League Baseball on the split-season concept, an arrangement Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan likened to a three-legged stool. (Hillsborough County and Tampa would be the third leg — not St. Petersburg.)

“The goal is to try and have an agreement with all three entities by the end of the year. It’s extremely aggressive. However, having gone through the last several-year exercise, I appreciate the sense of urgency and the goal of trying to reach an agreement as quickly as possible,” said Hagan, who led the talks with the team for the proposed $892 million stadium in Ybor City before they broke down in December 2018.

RELATED: Rays reject Ybor City stadium, remain committed to Tampa Bay

The 2½-hour meeting in Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s office lasted 30 minutes longer than scheduled, delaying a formal signing of a police union contract.

Afterward, both Hagan and Castor said they were encouraged by the tenor of the conversation about finding a home for the Rays in Tampa after the 2027 season.

“I’m optimistic about it,” Castor said. “The Rays want to stay in the Tampa Bay area. We want to keep them in the Tampa Bay area, and we’re going to do everything that we can with the caveat that the citizens’ appetite of paying for a stadium is about zero at this point.”

The Rays released this statement after Monday’s meeting:

“Today, we took a meaningful step toward securing the future of Rays baseball in Tampa Bay beyond 2027. We appreciate Mayor Castor and Commissioner Hagan’s leadership and look forward to a continued dialogue with city and county stakeholders. We remain focused on the Sister City concept and unwavering in our commitment to work in partnership with the community as this process moves forward.”

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has said he intends to hold the team to its commitment to play in his city until its use agreement to play at Tropicana Field expires after the 2027 season. He hasn’t commented publicly on any negotiations with the Rays, but city council members who he has briefed privately say the mayor hasn’t given up trying to keep the Rays in the Sunshine City.

RELATED: Kriseman tells City Council members in private: 'Relax, we know what we're doing'

A spokesman for Kriseman said the mayor declined to comment on Monday’s developments.

Ybor City remains the preferred Hillsborough County site for the Rays, although Hagan said the team indicated its open to other Hillsborough locations if they proved viable.

Specific numbers weren’t discussed, but the two sides agreed that funding mechanisms like community development districts, tax-increment financing and federal opportunity zone investment were “all viable options," Castor said.

An open-air stadium to use before summer rains begin will likely cost hundreds of millions less to build. But public sentiment so far has been mixed on splitting the season with Montreal.

Nevertheless, Hagan said he’s committed to exploring the idea.

“The Rays were extremely transparent and we’re excited about the possibility of working together to ensure the team stays here for generations to come,” Hagan said. “I still believe there are considerable challenges with this concept. However, I think it’s one we need to explore and we’re going to do everything we can to see if we can make it work."

Castor agreed, but said she hadn’t given up hope for keeping the Rays for the entire 162-game season.

“The focus was on the split season, but I don’t think the full season is off the table yet," Castor said.

(Follow link for full article.)

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What’s on our plate: a breakfast sandwich, king cake, tacos from a gas station

Here are some of our favorite bites this month.

(Follow link for full article.)

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Joe Tamborello, longtime owner of Ybor’s Tamborello Service Station, dead at 73

The business was more than a place where cars were repaired. It was an Ybor City gathering place.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/ybor-city-back-in-play-for-rays-future-plans

Ybor City back in play for Rays future plans

Ybor City has been here before.

Two years ago, the Rays announced plans for a near-billion dollar stadium off Adamo Drive, but it never came close to happening.

“I think everyone’s expectations now are a little more measured," said Ybor City Chamber of Commerce Director Travis Horn.

Horn says Ybor’s business community had high hopes the last time around.

FULL CIRCLE: The uncertain future of the Tampa Bay Rays

“Certainly, I think there was a spike in real estate during that period and there’s been relative interest continuing on. But I think that’s all part of the fact that Ybor is experiencing a renaissance anyway," said Horn.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan met with Rays owner Stu Sternberg Monday to talk about bringing the team to Tampa as part of the city-sharing deal with Montreal.

Hagan says the Rays want an agreement by the end of the year.

“It’s an ambitious timeline but I’m encouraged by it after working on this for over 10 years now. I welcome this pace and this sense of urgency,” he said.

No specifics have been released yet on financing for a new ballpark.

Previous Coverage: Rays meet with Tampa officials, team doubles down on Tampa Bay-Montreal sister city concept

Hagan says the plan could also include the Rowdies and Spring Training and would still be primarily paid for by private money.

“That’s why we believe that Ybor City still offers the best opportunity for the team to stay here," said Hagan.

“We’d love to see them here. We’ve rolled out the welcome mat and we will continue to roll it out for them," said Horn.

The Rays are tied to Tropicana Field through 2027.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman had no comment on these latest talks.