TexasTerror
December 14th, 2006, 01:00 PM
Devil Rays looking to relocate? It's not that far from Tampa to Orlando, but perhaps this is a sign that the Devil Rays may be looking to move their franchise to Orlando, especially if they get a good reaction during this series. Either that, or it's a different attempt at marketing from anything we've seen outside of San Diego/NYM playing in Mexico a few years back...
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Associated Press
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays' effort to bolster fan support and make themselves a regional franchise will include playing three regular-season games at Disney World next season.
The team on Thursday formally announced plans to move its May 15-17 home series against the Texas Rangers from St. Petersburg to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in suburban Orlando.
"We hope these games whet the appetite of fans from Central Florida and they'll take us up on our offer to come sample Rays baseball and our fan experience at Tropicana Field," Devil Rays president Matt Silverman said.
Silverman reiterated that shifting the series was part of owner Stuart Sternberg's desire to transform the team into a regional franchise rather than an attempt to gauge the Orlando market as a potential site for relocation. The ballpark in Kissimmee is about 90 miles from the Devil Rays' home at Tropicana Field.
The Rangers have a history of not drawing well on visits to Tropicana Field, including last season when six dates against Texas attracted an average of 8,241 fans per game. Announced attendance ranging from 7,147 to 9,701.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2697437
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Associated Press
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays' effort to bolster fan support and make themselves a regional franchise will include playing three regular-season games at Disney World next season.
The team on Thursday formally announced plans to move its May 15-17 home series against the Texas Rangers from St. Petersburg to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in suburban Orlando.
"We hope these games whet the appetite of fans from Central Florida and they'll take us up on our offer to come sample Rays baseball and our fan experience at Tropicana Field," Devil Rays president Matt Silverman said.
Silverman reiterated that shifting the series was part of owner Stuart Sternberg's desire to transform the team into a regional franchise rather than an attempt to gauge the Orlando market as a potential site for relocation. The ballpark in Kissimmee is about 90 miles from the Devil Rays' home at Tropicana Field.
The Rangers have a history of not drawing well on visits to Tropicana Field, including last season when six dates against Texas attracted an average of 8,241 fans per game. Announced attendance ranging from 7,147 to 9,701.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2697437