September 18, 2023

Read in Browser [[link removed]]

PRESENTED BY

It’s almost hard to remember a time when the Tampa Bay Rays weren’t trying to figure out how and where to build a new ballpark to replace the outdated Tropicana Field. Now with a new St. Petersburg deal close at hand, the league is getting ready to shed one of its thorniest problems — and move on to even bigger opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles are approaching a crucial facility deal of their own, and questions remain regarding Tom Brady’s planned acquisition of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.

And the Front Office Sports survey for 2023 Best Employers in Sports Award is now open [[link removed]]. Tell us how your company stacks up.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

MLB Expansion Potentially Draws Closer With Rays Ballpark Deal [[link removed]]

Gensler

After operating at 30 teams for a quarter-century, MLB could finally be approaching expansion.

Both MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and predecessor Bud Selig have reiterated that any extensive consideration of league expansion would first require solving problematic stadium issues for both the Rays and Oakland A’s.

While the A’s situation remains in limbo, there is now an expected $1.2 billion deal [[link removed]] for the Tampa Bay Rays to build a new ballpark in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a formal announcement planned for Tuesday.

The Rays’ effort to replace the badly outdated Tropicana Field will center on the development of a 30,000-seat stadium opening in 2028, part of a larger, 86-acre redevelopment of St. Petersburg’s Gas Plant District. The deal would end years of relocation talk involving the Rays and keep MLB in the country’s 13th-largest media market.

“We’ll be sharing a lot with the public tomorrow!” team president Matt Silverman said to Front Office Sports.

On the other side of the country, the A’s have formally submitted [[link removed]] their relocation bid to move to Las Vegas and build a new ballpark there, though some questions [[link removed]] still surround that effort.

Should both the Rays and A’s succeed in resolving decades-long facility issues, expansion efforts are expected to quickly escalate around MLB. Already, cities such as Nashville [[link removed]], Charlotte, Salt Lake City [[link removed]], Montreal, and Portland have either made preliminary pitches or have been discussed as potential candidates.

At the All-Star Game in July, Manfred said [[link removed]] MLB was beginning to think more about expansion, which could bring at least several billion dollars in new money into the sport.

“I hope pretty shortly thereafter [completing the A’s and Rays deals], we would put together an expansion committee and start talking about issues associated with expansion,” Manfred said then.

EXCLUSIVE

Simona Halep Says There’s ‘No Proof’ Behind Doping Ban

Former world No. 1 and two-time women’s tennis singles Grand Slam champion Simona Halep tells Front Office Sports that her legal team is actively working to overturn a four-year suspension ahead of the Australian Open and said, “They didn’t find anything bad in my blood. … There is no proof. It’s just insane.”

Read more about this exclusive interview [[link removed]] with FOS senior reporter A.J. Perez.

Delay Around Brady’s Raiders Stake Sparks Questions [[link removed]]

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The lagging process by which Tom Brady will officially acquire a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders — which was agreed [[link removed]] to in May — is creating several interesting questions, both on and off the field.

The purchase hasn’t been finalized by the league, and there is no firm timetable to do so, according [[link removed]] to NFL Media.

Brady would not be able play for a team if he owned a part of a franchise — sparking fan speculation that Brady is holding up the deal in case he wants to return to playing quarterback somewhere during the 2023 season.

But there could be more complicated business details behind the scenes.

Under new rules reportedly passed after Brady agreed to acquire the Raiders stake, Brady would also be unable to work [[link removed]] for the Raiders if he held team equity. If Raiders owner Mark Davis had been hoping to add Brady to his front office, he can no longer do so.

How big a stake or how much it would cost Brady is unknown, but with the Raiders’ most recent valuation from Forbes at $6.2 billion, even a half-percent of the team could be worth $31 million.

‘Patriot For Life’

Another reason for the delay could be that Brady has changed his mind about acquiring a stake in the Raiders — potentially in favor of his longtime former NFL club.

Brady got the royal treatment [[link removed]] last weekend when the New England Patriots welcomed the superstar back to Foxboro, and the seven-time Super Bowl champion sat with team owner Robert Kraft during the Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. “One thing I’m sure of and that will never change, is that I am a Patriot for life,” Brady said [[link removed]] that day.

PRESENTED BY NEW BALANCE

Empowering Change With Will Price

“There’s a sense of accomplishment. There’s a sense of hope, and there’s a sense of clarity that comes with running that I’ve never felt before.” – Will Price, member of Portland’s Rose City Track Club.

Front Office Sports and New Balance are teaming up for Season 2 of Empowering Change [[link removed]], where we highlight runners from across the country as they prepare for the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon and share their story of what running means to them.

In episode two, we join Will and his fellow Rose City Track Club members to hear his inspiring story of sobriety and how running helps him move forward.

Watch the full episode [[link removed]] now.

Orioles’ Angelos Says Staying In Baltimore ‘A Given’ [[link removed]]

Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports

After weeks of growing optimism, the Baltimore Orioles say talks are in the final stages to keep the team at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Orioles managing partner John Angelos said it’s a “given” the team will remain at Camden Yards and avoid a lapse after the current lease deal expires at the end of the year. The lack of a signed stadium agreement has raised months of local speculation about a potential club relocation.

“The Orioles have a 70-year partnership with the city and the state, and Camden Yards more than 30,” Angelos told [[link removed]] The Baltimore Banner. “And we’re going to have 30 more. That’s a given … I have every confidence we’ll get it done.”

The often-reclusive executive made his comments as the Orioles clinched their first playoff appearance since 2016 on Sunday, advancing a remarkable turnaround that has been one of MLB’s leading stories this year.

The lease deal will open up $600 million in Maryland bond funds for ballpark upgrades. For months, state officials and Angelos have been divided [[link removed]] on the scope of the stadium project, with Maryland seeking a narrower agreement and the team interested [[link removed]] in a broader, mixed-use development of the Camden Yards area.

A’s Vote This Fall?

The relocation of the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas could reach [[link removed]] an MLB ownership vote in November, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The proposed club move is under review by a newly established MLB relocation committee led by Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio.

The status of the team’s planned stadium along the Las Vegas Strip, however, remains uncertain, with recent developments including a new effort [[link removed]] to force a referendum vote on the public funding in the project, questions [[link removed]] on the club’s interim home, and continued fan unrest [[link removed]].

Conversation Starters On Monday, ESPN will debut [[link removed]] its new “Monday Night Football” anthem. Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg, and Cindy Blackman Santana will reimagine Phil Collins’ classic “In the Air Tonight.” HBO has canceled [[link removed]] “Winning Time” after two seasons. The series chronicling the Los Angeles Lakers’ Showtime era concluded with their 1984 NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics. Check out the video [[link removed]] of fans rushing in for the Dallas Cowboys’ home opener vs. the New York Jets.

SPONSORED BY CHEVROLET

A Day Outdoors With Elena Delle Donne

[[link removed]]

As one of the WNBA’s biggest stars in the last decade, Elena Delle Donne is mostly known for her work on the court. But like many professional athletes – Elena has her own passions off the field.

In our new series, My Other Passion, presented by Chevrolet, we hit the outdoors [[link removed]] with some of the most recognizable athletes in sports to explore their interests outside the arena.

Learn how hiking helps Elena Delle Donne find peace away from the court, the importance of always moving and staying active, and how her family inspires her to push through adversity.

Watch episode two [[link removed]] now.

Editor's Picks Trevor Lawrence Settles Lawsuit Over FTX Crypto Endorsement [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Lawrence has settled while other FTX athlete endorsers still face lawsuits. Monday Night Football Returns To ABC Amid Entertainment Breakdown [[link removed]]by Michael McCarthy [[link removed]]ABC will simulcast 15 regular season "Monday Night Football" games. Jerry Jones Courts FIFA President, Eyes World Cup Final at AT&T Stadium [[link removed]]by Andrew Cohen [[link removed]]Gianni Infantino visited AT&T Stadium, fueling 2026 World Cup Final speculation. Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers USA - Multiple Locations Apply Now [[link removed]] Washington Commanders USA - Multiple Locations Apply Now [[link removed]] Seattle Seahawks / First & Goal Inc. USA - Multiple Locations Apply Now [[link removed]] Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Brian Krikorian [[link removed]]

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].

Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]

Copyright © 2023 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.

80 Pine Street Suite 3202 New York, NY 10005