MLB: 5 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Should Move to Immediately

The Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the best stories in Major League Baseball since 2008 when they went from being the doormat of the American League to the World Series runner-up. 

Manager Joe Maddon helped guide the youthful Rays to their first playoff appearance in 2008, and they proceeded to upset the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, but they were eventually defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.

The Rays followed up their Cinderella season by winning 84 games in 2009 and finishing third in the AL East, which was nothing short of remarkable considering they lost 101 games in 2006.

The team rebounded in 2010 by winning the AL East for the second time in three years with a 96-66 record, but the Rays fell to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers in the ALDS.

Oh, and they have been doing all this while remaining in the bottom third of the MLB's payroll rankings. 

Tampa Bay's success on the field has not translated to putting fans in the stands of Tropicana Field though, which is a big reason why their payroll continues to remain low and will not be doing them any favors as the trade deadline approaches in 2011.

Among the 14 AL teams, the Rays have not finished any higher then ninth in attendance since 2007 and finished 12th the year of their World Series run.

The Rays have averaged roughly between 22,000-23,000 fans per game in attendance, but the Trop seats 34,078 people and could hold 42,735 fans if they were to remove the tarp from certain sections in the stadium. 

Not much has changed in Tampa Bay this year either. The Rays are just seven games out of the lead in the AL East and five and a half games out of the Wild Card, but are ranked 13th in AL attendance.

It's time for the Rays to move the franchise to a city where they can gain the support they need to continue as one of the AL's best teams for years to come. Here are five cities that would likely be great fits for the Rays.

Memphis, Tenn.

Population: 676,640 (19th among U.S. cities)

Other Professional Sports Teams in the City: Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis is the 19th-largest city in the United States and features the Memphis Grizzlies, whose rise from the cellar of the NBA is much similar to the Rays'. 

The Grizzlies were 27th in NBA attendance, but this is largely due to their struggles during the regular season. The fans were out in full force to create one of the loudest arenas in the NBA during the Grizzlies' playoff run into the Western Conference semifinals.

Insert the Rays into Memphis, and you have a city on the rise with two very young franchises thriving on the baseball diamond and hardwood.

Obviously the Rays would need a new ballpark built, but the remaining fanbase in Tampa Bay is already calling for a new stadium, so this is somewhat of a moot point.

Charlotte, N.C.

Population: 709,441 (18th among U.S. cities)

Other Professional Teams in the City: Carolina Panthers

Charlotte seems like it could be a great fit for a professional baseball team. The Carolina Panthers are in the middle of a down phase and may not be winners again for quite some time. The Raleigh-based Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) have also begun to sputter.

The Rays could go to North Carolina, continue winning and give sports fans in the state a team they can root for in the postseason, aside from the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament.

Las Vegas

Population: 567,641 (28th among U.S. cities)

Other Professional Teams in the City: None

I think it is about time the world's largest playground gets a professional sports team. A news outlet reported in August of 2010 that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is actively pursuing a professional baseball team for the city.

The Rays have been their prime candidate, considering their desire for a new stadium and less than spectacular attendance figures in Tampa Bay.

Las Vegas has already lost out on the Sacramento Kings who decided to stay put and the Phoenix Coyotes decision to keep their franchise in its current location. 

The city's population ranking has shot up from 63rd to 28th since 1990, which is also another great reason to establish a professional sports team in Las Vegas.

Plus, the only teams the Rays would have to compete with for attendance would be the Nevada Wolfpack and the UNLV Rebels' college teams—well, and the Lingerie Football League (pictured above), but I do not think they will be able to cause the same attendance troubles the Rays have at the moment.

How awesome would a brand new baseball stadium look near the Las Vegas strip?

Omaha, Neb.

Population: 454,731 (40th among U.S. cities)

Other Professional Teams in the City: None

Once again, this would be a great place for the Rays to move because there are no professional sports teams in Nebraska, let alone the surrounding states like Iowa, Kansas and Wyoming. 

There is also an established baseball tradition in Omaha with the College World Series played there every year.

The Rays will likely not be able to use TD Ameritrade Park though because of the minor league teams in the city, plus it can only fit around 24,000 fans. The Rays would have to build a new ballpark, but there is no reason not to believe it would not be revered by baseball fans in the area.

The city of Omaha has also risen in the population rankings from 47th to 40th since 1990, which indicates a growing interest in the area and perhaps a growing fanbase if the trend continues.

Indianapolis

Population: 807,584 (14th among U.S. cities)

Other Professional Teams in the City: Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers

The city of Indianapolis already has a winning team in the Colts, but there is no reason the Rays cannot succeed in Indy as well.

The Indiana Pacers are floundering at the moment, which would provide the Rays with an opening to win over the Indianapolis fanbase.

The city has a very high population and has quite a large media market as well, which would help promote the Rays and perhaps sell out more than just one game per year.