Comments on: Rays have a fresh, creative marketing plan

By: St Petersburg Resident

St Petersburg Resident — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:38:13 +0000

1) Old stadium that is not a true “baseball stadium”.
–Although it may be true that it is not a “true” baseball stadium, it is not all that bad and it does provide many more ammenities to attract fans than many other parks do. And it is not an “end-all” to sit and watch baseball there, it truely isn’t that bad.
2) The stadium is in St.Petersburgh, not Tampa. Its about a 25-30 minute ride to get to the games.
–Spoken like a true Tampon… (yes, that’s what they are called, really!) There attitude if it is not in Tampa, it must not be worth going to. Parking at the stadium is not that bad, actually much more conveinent than many other baseball venues.
3) There is nothing in or around St.Pete to draw fans to hanging out before or after games. St.Pete. is a very dangerous area.
–St Pete is filled with things to do… clubs, bars, museums, one of the best intimate live-music venues in the country in Jannus Live (Jannus Landing) that get some of the same big names that Tampa gets. St Pete is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, close to the beaches and continuously gets recognized year after year with various rewards. This city has also given the Indy Racing Leagues one of their most successful venues and helped ensure their comeback in the world of racing. St. Petersburg is a very safe place, nothing says rape, stabbings, and shootings like Ybor in Tampa! How are their revitilizing efforts going over there in Tampa?
4) The Rays fans were burned by the old ownership and management.
–It happens all over in the sports world, unless you are one of the great dynasties that are already worth millions. It was a St. Pete group that stepped up to the plate to get a baseball team in the area, and it is the new St. Pete ownership handling the transition to the next level. Funny, the Tampa Mayor and City Board have said and continue to show no interest in viably exploring bringing the team to Tampa.

By: Rays fan

Rays fan — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:43:07 +0000

Many people do not like the Tropicana unique facility/squashed toadstool, and the miniblimp gives Gator panic attacks. However, it’s the bird-in-hand, & the traffic’s not bad (especially considering that the mass transit system’s not good). Ultimately, obviously, the owners will do what makes the most sense in their own interests in the long run.
The Pat Boone fans only arrive after the first frost, so stick with the ZZ Top concerts!

By: marco73

marco73 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:20:29 +0000

I think the Rays experience in St Pete is about the best that The Trop can offer. We usually get to 2 – 3 Saturday concerts each season. We are on the far side of Tampa from St Pete, and I don’t consider the drive difficult at all.
I know some promoters are trying to sell building a Yankee stadium out by the fairgrounds, but the economics of such a move don’t make sense. Tampa/Hillsborough residents are already burdened with paying for Raymond James stadium for the Bucs. Trying to squeeze money out of the local taxpayers for a baseball stadium by the fairgrounds would be a very tough sell in these times.
I think the ownership of the Rays will have to contend with Tropicana field if they are going to stay in this market.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:34:15 +0000

Oh yeah, and it’s “St. Petersburg” – there’s no H.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:32:03 +0000

“during the years prior to and after their magical run to the World Series … the Rays were playing lights out baseball.” Sure, worst record in the AL in ’06 and ’07.
1. Have you ever been to a “true baseball stadium?” It can take 25-30 mins just to find somewhere to park once you’re there.
2. Where do you live exactly? Maybe they can come play right in your backyard.
3. Downtown St. Pete has several nice museums, bars, restaurants… just like Tampa without the nightly stabbings.
4. Yes, but we’re now in the fifth year of new ownership, which has put one of the best teams in baseball on the field and kept the fan experience among the most affordable in all of pro sports.
Wake up, Charles! There’s a great big real world out there, one in which nobody cares about the Lightning, the Gasparilla invasion is pretend, and nobody wants to drive all the way from Orlando just to see that huge confederate flag.

By: jwb

jwb — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:22:49 +0000

The Go-Gos have not aged well and may not have played a show since last April. http://twitter.com/officialgogos

By: BC

BC — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:11:02 +0000

Get Linkin Park in there for a show, and I’ll consider going.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:27:30 +0000

ZZ Top?! I’d go see the game just to see them play! But Pat Boone?! The people who would come to the game to see him, can’t physically climb the stairs without tremendous risk of personal injury! Broken hip, anyone?

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:17:55 +0000

In an ideal world where it rains beer and the pretty girls are the easy ones, it might indeed be the responsibility of the customer to buy the product. However, out here in reality, it rains acid, the ugly ones are easy, and one of the harshest facts, along with the second law of thermodynamics, is that it’s the vendor’s responsibility to make the product attractive enough so that the customer will want to buy it.
.
Just ask Scrooge McLoria and his Chihuahua.

By: willmose

willmose — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:07:56 +0000

Rays have a tough time drawing because the games aren’t free. If Florida could figure out a way to get the tourists to pay for the natives to go to the games the Rays would draw 5 million. Perhaps the “Cub” tax in Arizona is the way to go. A “Rays” tax of $4 per on hotel/motel rooms and rental cars would probably do it.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:27:57 +0000

25 or 30 minutes to get to the game? You poor soul. Maybe if you ask nicely your mommy will take you to the game…
This attitude is precisely why baseball won’t survive. Why waste time & money building a new stadium? I’m sure you & fellow “Tampa” residents will add a few more excuses to the list. You have a baseball team NOW. You need to support it NOW. Or else it will go bye bye, and then you will have NOTHING!.

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:22:06 +0000

I agree completely with Chuck. The fairground area would seem like the perfect location. You could draw from North of Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota and the Tampa – St Pete area. St. Pete needs to understand that they need to let them out of the lease or risk having the entire area lose the team.

By: Chuck Ramus

Chuck Ramus — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:56:13 +0000

You build it they will come. 3 Words dummy…..Location, Location, Location. I-75 & I-4 Market serving Tampa, St. Pete, Orlando and the West Coast of Florida!

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:59:42 +0000

Now all they need is a venue without a mold hazard and a high rate of depression among its employees.

By: charles B

charles B — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:36:18 +0000

I think this is a attempt to get baseball fans to what is a town that has no interest in professional baseball. I lived in Tampa during the years prior to and after their magical run to the World Series. No one went to the games even thought the Rays were playing lights out baseball. The reasons:
1) Old stadium that is not a true “baseball stadium”.
2) The stadium is in St.Petersburgh, not Tampa. Its about a 25-30 minute ride to get to the games.
3) There is nothing in or around St.Pete to draw fans to hanging out before or after games. St.Pete. is a very dangerous area.
4) The Rays fans were burned by the old ownership and management.