Brewers moving to Orlando?!

[Invader3K]

This is pretty hilarious:

 

Orlando TV station reports Brewers "could relocate".

 

The story from WFTV said Armando Gutierrez, a Florida real

estate developer who is running for Congress, is assembling a group of

investors to begin discussions about luring a Major League franchise to

Orlando. Gutierrez did not specifically mention the Brewers as a target

but WFTV reporter Mark Boyle did, speculating that, "one team that could possibly relocate is the Milwaukee Brewers."

Totally untrue, Brewers vice president of communications Tyler Barnes said.

"The

reporter or whoever else is putting that out there should do his

homework," Barnes said. "It's irresponsible. We just finished ninth in

attendance, we have one of the best ballparks in baseball and an owner

who is totally committed to the [Milwaukee] area.

"That report is beyond hilarious. I needed a good laugh today, and I got it."

The report in question.

[JohnBriggs12]

Even though it's preposterous, a story like that makes my palms sweat. Nobody believed the first reports about the Braves moving either that appeared in 1963. Turned out the deal was already cut. The one thing to worry about is somebody with deep pockets offering MA a deal he couldn't refuse. Still, I don't think MLB would look at Orlando as a market that could sustain major league baseball without killing another franchise (Rays) who are 90 minutes down the road.

[monty57]

Agreed, JB. Florida has a hard time getting fans to come out to see the two MLB franchises they already have. They would probably support 5 or 6 more major college football teams, but not another baseball team.

[Brewtacular]

I also like the repeated clips of the Twins. I'm sure they are getting tired of the dome and really looking for a new stadium

[strawbossisevil]

It is kind of strange that Orlando is such a big metro area and the only major sports team we have down here is the Magic. That said, this rumor is ridiculous. As others have pointed out, Florida has already proved itself incapable of supporting the two teams that are already here.

 

I could see a football team coming here well before a baseball team.

[endaround]

The Rays moving to Orlando if their stadium deal falls through again? Sure. Any other team? No.

My guess is Orlando is already part of the Rays' market area and the Rays would have to get a sizable payoff to let a team move there.

[JoeHova]

If the Brewers leave town before their lease is up, Bud Selig would probably be lynched. The stadium is unipurpose and useless except for baseball and it will have cost taxpayers somewhere between half a billion and a billion dollars by the time it is paid off. If it just sits there without a team before it is even paid off, people will be enraged. I expect the team to leave after 2030 but not before then.

[JoeHova]

They would probably support 5 or 6 more major college football teams, but not another baseball team.

I disagree with this. The Hurricanes don't sell out their games (and usually don't even come close) even when they are good. USF is growing but Florida and FSU are the only attendance powerhouses in that state.

[crewcrazy]

Reports like this just show laziness on the reporter's part. "Gee, it'd be cool if we had a baseball team...who could we get? Milwaukee is small, right? I think I'll throw them in my story."

 

The funny thing is, in terms of market area, this would be a lateral move at best for the Brewers front office. There'd really be no reason for Mark A. or any other future owner to even consider Orlando.

[Funketown]

Even the thought of this makes me nervous, but this is just ludicrous. Neither the Marlins' front office nor the Rays' front office would let this happen, let alone anyone else. Those teams can't draw fans as it is, so you have to wonder how they'd be able to draw with another MLB team in the state.

[logan82]

The team's lease at Miller Park runs through Dec. 31, 2030, and includes a non-relocation agreement. Link

[NeedMoreFans]

Combined, the Rays and Marlins only had 200K more fans than the Brewers did last year. Weren't the Brewers one of the rare teams to turn a profit over the past few years as well? Clearly...these are all reasons for Mark A. to sell the team.

 

I actually e-mailed this reporter to point out all of the reasons why the Brewers won't be going anywhere soon.

[RockCoCougars]

Orlando is a garbage sports town. The Magic have been towards the bottom of the league in attendance since Shaq left. Like Tampa, a good chunk of the residents are transplants so I suppose the team would draw when the Cubs come to town and that would be about it. Obviously the story is B.S. anyway. MLB has two failed franchises in Florida already- they won't be putting another there.

[burnzy24]

 

I actually e-mailed this reporter to point out all of the reasons why the Brewers won't be going anywhere soon.

Let us know if he writes anything back. This whole report is like they read some rumor on an online blog and then reported it as true. It is so bad I can't even begin to comprehend how it got on the air. If they want a team so bad they should just move the Rays to Orlando.

 

 

 

 

[Invader3K]

JoeHova]I expect the team to leave after 2030 but not before then.

While 20 years is a long ways away at this point, I think chances are good the Brewers will be in Milwaukee beyond 2030. There are only so many cities in North America that can sustain an MLB team. I also expect MLB to expand to at least 32 teams eventually. That will further dwindle the amount of other cities that could potentially lure the Brewers away.

 

That all said, the idea of a baseball team in Orlando is fairly idiotic, unless one of the other Florida teams relocates. Even then I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

[owbc]

When I saw the thread title, I thought it was about our spring training home!!!

 

I do not expect the Brewers to move in 2030. Miller Park is extremely well-maintained and will still be in excellent condition. Another advantage is that Milwaukee only has 2 major sports teams, and the Bucks will likely leave at some point. The Brewers do not have much competition for entertainment dollars in the summer and people in Wisconsin are very passionate about sports. Even if the Brewers suffered another lean decade, they would continue to draw well due to the roof, tailgating tradition, group sales, road attendance from Cubs/Twins fans, etc, etc. The list goes on and on!

[Polish Falcons]

This whole report is like they read some rumor on an online blog and then reported it as true. It is so bad I can't even begin to comprehend how it got on the air. If they want a team so bad they should just move the Rays to Orlando.

In a way I actually think this report was below spreading a bogus rumor from an online blog. The reporter, or whoever writes for the reporter, clearly just pulled the idea out of the blue that "one team that could possibly relocate is the Milwaukee Brewers."

It seems to me that this whole story stems from this political candidate who is vying for publicity. His committee has not advanced even beyond the very first stage of even exploring the possibility of what is required to bring an MLB team to Orlando. This seems like a classic example of bad local news coverage from the time they picked up the story to the time when the Brewers got roped into it. Pretty hilarious though, indeed.

[nate82]

When I saw the thread title, I thought it was about our spring training home!!!

I thought the same thing.

 

This sounds more like if any team that will be moving to Orlando it would be the Rays.

[mtrebs]

I expect the team to leave after 2030 but not before then.

The thought of the Brewers moving gets me sick to my stomach. Although it is a possibility that they could move someday, they shouldn't be going anywhere before 2030. That's 20 years away...I'm 30 now and didn't start watching the Brewers until I was around 10 so I have around 20 years of Brewers memories...so 20 more years (hopefuly many more) would be great!

 

 

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I expect the team to leave after 2030 but not before then.

The thought of the Brewers moving gets me sick to my stomach. Although it is a possibility that they could move someday, they shouldn't be going anywhere before 2030. That's 20 years away...I'm 30 now and didn't start watching the Brewers until I was around 10 so I have around 20 years of Brewers memories...so 20 more years (hopefuly many more) would be great!

 

Hopefully my 401k gets big enough to be able to purchase the Brewers at that time to save them from relocation. Anybody in as potential minority investors? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[AJAY]

The only way the Milwaukee Brewers go to Orlando is if they win the World Series and they have a big parade at Disney World to honor the champions.

 

I can live with that http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[bucks2281]

The Magic have been towards the bottom of the league in attendance since Shaq left.

 

I agree that Orlando would be a terrible baseball town, but the Magic sell out every game.

 

Watching that video, the "reporter" looks pretty young. I'll venture to guess that he didn't do his homework. I also like their clip of the Twins, who will open Target Field in April. I'm sending that guy an email, too. He deserves to be criticized for his poor research and misguided speculation.

[BREWERPRIDE]

The funny thing is a bunch of us Brewers fans on twitter sent Mark Boyle messages blasting him, and within 20 minutes he deleted his twitter.

 

Haha, which shows he knows it was a stupid comment.

[trwi7]

I'm sending that guy an email, too. He deserves to be criticized for his poor research and misguided speculation.

 

If he sends an email back, I'd love it if you posted it here. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[MessiahRp]

If Orlando wants a team there are already two teams in Florida that don't draw for nothing all year long that would be easier to get to relocate (not to mention cost less to move as a whole).

 

I am not sold that Florida fans really care enough about Baseball to sustain a single MLB team, let alone three.

 

Rp