MLB's Tampa Bay Rays might move to Montreal — and stay in Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Rays have received permission from Major League Baseball to explore the possibility of being split in two — playing the first portion of their games in the Tampa, Florida, area and the remainder of their season in Montreal, Canada, ESPN reports.

The Rays, who at 43-31 currently draw an average of just 14,546 fans to funereal Tropicana Field, have long failed to secure new stadium funding, leading to talk of a move from Florida. Under the deal, a new ballpark would still be necessary, but the early-season schedule would preclude a costly dome, and the team would gain much-needed revenue from new sponsors in Montreal.

According to The Tampa Bay Times, the plan faces steep hurdles, including receiving approval from both the city of St. Petersburg and the players' union, building a new stadium in Montreal, and logistics involving TV rights, sponsorships, and more. There's also the matter of how a team with meager support in one city would find success in a second home whose own financially-strapped Expos moved away in 2004. In the meantime, the Rays' next home game will be on June 28, when they'll play the Texas Rangers. Plenty of good seats, of course, are still available.

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