I have been spreading rumors around the Albany area that the Rays are moving here to see the kind of buzz it generates. My hope is that getting this buzz going will create some discussion for the owners of the Rays to consider relocating here when their lease expires for Tropicana Field.
Here are HR reasons that the Rays need to move to Albany:
1. Fan support for the players – Even though the Rays draw high television ratings, their attendance at the games is near the bottom in MLB. Albany has a central location that can attract fans from Saratoga, Syracuse, Western Mass and other surrounding areas.
2. Shorter travel for the players – the Rays would be within a 3 hour drive of both the Yankees and Red Sox and a 1 hour flight to Baltimore from Albany.
3. Housing and school quality – the Capital Region has some of the finest schools and colleges, which gives family members of players have some fringe benefits to living in the Capital Region
4. Endorsement deals – with new companies emerging due to the CNSE, GlobalFoundries and all the incubators in the area, players would have more opportunities to get endorsements.
Let’s keep the buzz going, and convince the Rays that Albany would be a great place to move their team. I see a ballpark on the waterfront downtown where that old, abandoned warehouse is currently located. Why bring in an aquarium when we can bring in Major League Baseball!