DRaysBay · Apr 28, 2023
GDT: Remember the Tampa Bay White Sox?
Yes, the Chicago White Sox were one of the teams that flirted with the Tampa Bay area before our region was awarded an expansion team.
In fact, as what is now Tropicana Field was under construction, the state went all in on this courtship.
The Orlando Sentinel of June 8, 1988 reported that the state legislature allocated $30 million to attract the White Sox.
“They play second fiddle to the Cubs in Chicago,” Haben said. “The Cubs are owned by the Chicago Tribune, who owns the major TV station.”
“If they come to Florida,” he said, “they’ll be No. 1 in one of the top 20 media markets in the U.S. They’ll be Florida’s team.”