Without a new stadium, without decent revenue coming from their television agreement and having the lowest attendance in the majors, the Tampa Bay Rays franchise value according to Forbes magazine had a 27 percent increase from last year.
It is hard to believe and understand that the Tampa Bay Rays franchise, with all of their financial problems, small market-large market disparity, were able to stay afloat operating in 2016 on an income of $32.1 million with revenues at $205 million according to Forbes. Yet, to see their franchise value increase to $825 million without any other assistance is amazing.