Did anyone else look at those amazing renderings that were released today of the stadium site development plan and think

“This is the dream stadium they can’t afford, know they can’t afford, and it’s failure to get built is the leverage the new owners use to move the team somewhere where they get a sweetheart deal.”

Yes, the renderings were so much better than the stadium that was proposed in St. Pete. That one looked like a warehouse in comparison

From a purely subjective position, I'm disappointed. I wanted them to relocate. Nothing against the city or franchise, it just seems like they struggle with attendance. I would move them to Raleigh or Charlotte and rebrand as the Carolina Pilots. Pilots is a historical MLB name (Seattle Pilots > Milwaukee Brewers) and North Carolina is nicknamed "First in Flight" for the Wright Brothers. I would expand with the Nashville Stars and Utah Hornets. I'd also rebrand the Los Angeles Angels to the California Angels and either keep in their current home or relocate somewhere like Sacramento - especially if the Athletics stay garners any sort of following.

Assuming they maintain AL/NL:

American League
Central: Houston Astros, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Twins, Texas Ranger
East: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Carolina Pilots, New York Yankees
North: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays
West: California Angels, Las Vegas Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Utah Hornets

National League
Central: Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals
East: Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Nashville Stars, Washington Nationals
North: Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates
West: Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants

If they switch the EC/WC:

Eastern Conference
Atlantic: Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals
Metro: Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies
Mideast: Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers
Southeast: Atlanta Braves, Carolina Pilots, Miami Marlins, Nashville Stars

Western Conference
Central: Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
Midwest: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals
Pacific: California Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners
Southwest: Arizona Diamondbacks, Las Vegas Athletics, San Diego Padres, Utah Hornets