Who are you? What are your credentials?
My name is Michael Lortz and I am a market strategist/consultant in the Tampa area. I have lived in Tampa since 2006 and in 2015 started my own consulting firm, OSTB Solutions.
I have written about Tampa Bay area baseball – both Major League and Minor League – on several websites, to include RaysIndex.com, DRaysBay.com, Bus Leagues Baseball.com, and MinorLeagueBaseball.com. I have also been published in three books on Minor League Baseball, have done freelance writing for the Tampa Bay Times, and have performed stand-up comedy at the Tampa Improv.
I have an MBA from the University of South Florida, a BA in Creative Writing from Florida State, and an MA in International Affairs, also from FSU.
My personal website is here: MichaelLortz.com and my LinkedIn is here.
What is the purpose of this site?
This site will examine the Tampa Bay baseball market. We (royal “we”) will look at the demographics of Tampa Bay areas, explore the economics of the region, track attendance both in baseball and other competing options, and attempt to be a one-stop shop for how well the Tampa Bay area is supporting professional baseball.
What is the Tampa Bay area?
What is the Tampa Bay area?
The Tampa Bay area is the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, defined as the City of Tampa, the City of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the surrounding suburbs.
Why create this site?
For the last several years, many reasons have been floated as to why the Tampa Bay area can/cannot support professional baseball. My goals is to amass as much as much data as possible on one site so readers can make informed decisions and not rely on random assumptions as to the viability of baseball in the area.
Why focus on baseball? Why not talk about football, hockey, or even basketball?
Because no one talks about moving the Buccaneers or the Lightning.
Don’t other sites cover this already?
There are great sites out there that cover the Rays players, scores, highlights, and analysis. There are sites dedicated to the news of the stadium situation. And there are overall sports business sites. But I like to think I am filling a unique niche.
No one goes to see the Rays! You are wasting your time!
Although this isn’t a question, I know this will be said. It is possible at the end of this venture, I come to the conclusion the area can’t feasibly support Major League Baseball. However, right now, I don’t think that is the case. What I do think, however, is that the Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Yankees, Clearwater Threshers, and Dunedin Blue Jays exist in a very competitive economic environment where expendable income is low and gridlock is high.