In light of the escalating feud between Major League Baseball, the Rays, and Bill Foster over the usefulness of Tropicana Field, I think it’s funny that no one tried to capitalize on last night’s rain delay. If I am Bill Foster’s PR guy, I have a quote from Foster in every paper this morning about no games ever being rained out at the Trop. Right? Isn’t that a missed opportunity?
This thing with Foster is just bizarre.
In related news, a big thank you to Fox for not putting a graphic on the screen saying that the game had been rained out. I inadvertently watched like 10 minutes of Glee covering Rocky Horror Picture Show thinking it was some bizarre Fox World Series intro. (Seriously though, is Glee and RHPS the worst combination ever? Two things I can’t stand combined? That’s a bad day at the office).
Mark, you obviously hadn’t been drinking enough if the Glee Rocky Horror Combo Meal didn’t fill you up.
(Maybe that’s why RHPS is always on at Midnight.)
As for Foster, I think he’s just really amateurish at this. But I also think Stu is as well. The first rule of successful sports ownership is never carry the Commissioner’s Water. Especially one who is on his way out the door.
Stu seems to come with all of the Pros AND cons of SLK. They almost went under because they had virtually no understanding of average people. But they salvaged the company and made themselves so indispensible to Wall Street that Goldman ended up buying them by adopting tremendous operations. They brought that to the Rays and have become the best operators in baseball. But they still have no PR or marketing savvy. No understanding of the market. Stu has alienated much of the Rays fan base and much of a potential fan base perhaps largely because of really bad communication and Stu’s still adjusting to being an MLB owner.
But in some ways, Bill foster is as bad or worse. It’s not like there aren’t numerous examples to draw upon. Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and numerous smaller markets. These games have gone on for decades and MLB always uses the exact same game plan.
I can’t stand Foster’s bullish approach to the Rays, and I can’t stand Stu constantly alienating my family of casual fans, and by proxy alienating me…a fan who spends a pretty decent chunk of his moderate income on his team.
I can’t decide who is more or less correct in the fact, only that both the fans and residents of St Pete (I fall under both demographics) are losers in all of it.
One interesting thing to note this week though is the comments that Mayor Foster allegedly made to a member of the City Council that Stu is intentionally not promoting or marketing the team to sabotage the attendance and “prove” that the Rays aren’t viable in Tropicana Field. I truly believe this is the case, and I’ve said it before (on here, I think?). I look at the billboards, ads, commercials, promotions, etc from the 3 major teams in the area, and the winningest team in the area does the LEAST to tell the area how successful it is. It’s completely obvious if you live in Tampa Bay that the Rays don’t put themselves out there like the did even just 3 years ago.
I hadn’t realized it (I guess since I’m already a “hardcore” fan), but the lack of marketing in Tampa is a little surprising, and surely has an effect on the ticket sales in general.
Mark, any input on how the Rays should market the team in Tampa? That’s kind of related to PR right?
Mark, I want to see a post about where the rays need help on the roster. And then what the rays need to do this offseason. I have my ideas but i would like to hear yours first. Please add if you think any of them need to be traded also