Tampa Yankees to move to Orlando?

TAMPA - The Yankees may be moving out of Tampa to Orlando. Not the New York Yankees, but the Tampa Yankees; the single-A minor league team.

The team which plays in the Florida State League has been in Tampa since 1994. They play at Steinbrenner Field on Dale Mabry Highway. News of the team's possible move has some fans disappointed.

"I hope not, " said Peter Berdos. The owner of Mom's Place, just up the street from Steinbrenner Field is a big Yankees fan. "All those guys come here for breakfast or lunch."

The wall behind the front register has pictures of New York Yankees players.

Reports surfaced that officials in Orlando were talking with the Yankees. That information got people buzzing here.

The Yankees sent out a statement Wednesday afternoon. It reads in part, "The Yankees are in very preliminary discussions regarding the possibility of a partial sale of their Single-A Tampa minor league affiliate to a potential group of Orange County, Fla., investors. The investors will make an announcement tomorrow. These exploratory conversations will have no impact on the Yankees' spring training facility or the Major League team."

Tammi Friskney was at the Yankees box office on Wednesday picking up 4 tickets for Saturday's minor league game.

She said she and her boys love the games because they're affordable and family friendly.
She is surprised they are looking at moving.

"That seems pretty surprising considering this big stadium and what Steinbrenner has done for Tampa. It's surprising," she said.

Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty sent out a statement concerning the team, saying, "Metro Orlando is the largest TV market in the nation without professional baseball and a dozen smaller markets have Major League teams. So, I am supportive of any bona fide efforts to bring a professional baseball team to Orange County and I will do whatever I can to help the team find a suitable location to play."

The Yankees want to see if it's economically feasible to move the team.

Attendance for Tampa Yankees games are anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand, depending on who's sponsoring the night and if there are giveaways.

Steinbrenner Field was built using money from the Community Investment Tax. Commissioner Jim Norman said having a Minor League team was not part of the deal. He said it is understandable for the team to look for a place where they have the most fans.

"It's awfully difficult for a Single A club to be successful, where a major league team is also very successful. And I can see they're probably trying to work on their fan base," Norman said.
Commissioner Ken Hagan said he'd hate to see the team go.

"Well, I'm really disappointed to hear that news. We have such a rich history here in Tampa of Single A baseball dating back to the Tampa Tarpons. When I was growing up, you'd get free tickets at Publix," Hagan recalled.

The announcement will be made Thursday in Orlando, at noon.