The leader of the Montreal group who is efforting the split season concept with the Tampa Bay Rays says that 2020 will be the year in which all the details will be set and worked out for the Tampa Bay Rays to split their season between the two host cities. Stephen Bronfman told Montreal Sports Radio TSN 690AM that this concept is 100% legit and is happy to see MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred back the idea.
"This is real,'' Stephen Bronfman said Thursday night. "This is the year we're going to prove this thing out.''
Bronfman says he knows that Stu Sternberg is behind this entire process and knows he doesn't want to sell the team in Tampa Bay.
"Stu is a heartful guy, a mindful guy,'' Bronfman said. "He loves baseball. He does not want to sell the team though he knows he could make money doing that. He does not want to take the team out of a marketplace that he’s invested 14 years of heart and soul in trying to make it work. But he knows that in present, in the present situation, it doesn’t work.
"But he knows in his heart of hearts that by splitting and by taking two markets into one that he can make it work. And that's what we're going to prove out.''
When Bronfman was asked about how he feels the MLB Players Union would feel about the idea, he seemed to take a slight swipe at the city of St. Petersburg who currently is the residence of the Tampa Bay Rays.
"Say the shift (to Montreal) happens second week of June, mid-June,'' Bronfman said. "School season is over. Family moves up, they move to Montreal for the summer. Wives are happy. Much nicer city to be in than St. Petersburg, please. Much more cosmopolitan. Much more fun.''
To listen to the entire interview, CLICK HERE
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