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Rays acquire OF Gross from Milwaukee | Main | From the happiest place: Johnson gone, Gross in »
So what do the visitors from Toronto think of playing a series at Disney this week? Well, if Toronto Globe and Mail baseball writer Jeff Blair is representative (and we're not saying he is), apparently not much.
"On the list of big ideas, this is about the stupidest thing anybody's ever thought of," Blair blogs, describing the Rays as "trying to mark their territory here among the trailer parks, Waffle Houses and amusement parks.''
Game 2 is tonight.
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Sure...Toronto is a trailer park. Aside from NY and Chicago, TO is the best city in North America. Florida is, and will ever be, associated with mickey mouse and old people. End of story.
Posted by: Matt Goff | April 23, 2008 at 09:29 PM
how about we get the orlando people to realize how much superior a game baseball is when compared to basketball....
Posted by: raysfan | April 23, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Toronto is full of blow-hards who figure they know so much about trailer parks; since Toronto is just a larger one!I fully agree with all the comments about Canadians enjoying the trailer parks! kudos to you all! BUT understand this: it is the EASTERN CANADIANS who figure they know it all and gripe about everything, unless it comes out of Toronot!
Posted by: REP | April 23, 2008 at 07:26 PM
Good point about the magic......that definately was a factor.
Posted by: goodpoint | April 23, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Lets not forget it was a Tuesday night and Disney is actually 25 miles away from Orlando :)I was there and thought it was a decent turnout for a game played 120 miles from the Trop we still drew as much as the Rays do and St Pete has had the team for 10 years...
Posted by: Mike | April 23, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Yes the Rays didn't sell out last night, but you are all failing to remember that the Orlando Magic hosted a playoff game last night. That means a sell out crowd and a ton of other fans watching the Magic at home or in bars. I guarantee attendance will be better tonight now that the Magic are off traveling to Toronto.
Posted by: Wake Up | April 23, 2008 at 02:40 PM
why aren't I seeing some actual rational analysis of last night's attendance issue? Orlando is not, and never has been, a major league town. Last night they had a Magic playoff game in town along with an MLB game. You really thought they would pack the baseball game last night? It's not the Rays fault - it's the market over there and the unlucky, impossible to plan for conflict with the Magic's first round game.
Posted by: Craig | April 23, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Again, while I support the stadium and I like to see the enthusiasm for it, this isn't a stadium post, so can we please keep it baseball-only oriented for a little while? This stadium thing's giving me a migraine....
Posted by: Jimbo | April 23, 2008 at 02:05 PM
I was at the game last night, and AC was the last thing I was thinking about. The temperature was perfect. There was not a cloud in the sky and a slight breeze. I can't wait until the new stadium gets built so I can enjoy baseball and Florida's spectacular weather.
Oh and for those who complain about rain, that's what the tarp is for. And for those who complain about high temps and humidity in the summer...I was born and raised in Clearwater, FL. I know I can handle hot weather.
There will be nothing better than enjoying a Rays game outdoors. Not to mention the game will be on the waterfront with a slight breeze blowing in my face.
Posted by: Steve | April 23, 2008 at 01:57 PM
orlando is actually more than just disney. i live here and i can tell you there are a LOT of fulltime year-round residents here. the rays are absolutely doing the smart thing by trying to reach into this area.
people here support the magic and i guess the arena football team (i can't even remember what that team is). there is a big hispanic contingency here and if the rays can get this fanbase going, they can only serve to benefit from it. guaranteed.
Posted by: OrlandoResident | April 23, 2008 at 01:24 PM
orlando is actually more than just disney. i live here and i can tell you there are a LOT of fulltime year-round residents here. the rays are absolutely doing the smart thing by trying to reach into this area.
people here support the magic and i guess the arena football team (i can't even remember what that team is). there is a big hispanic contingency here and if the rays can get this fanbase going, they can only serve to benefit from it. guaranteed.
Posted by: OrlandoResident | April 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM
It is still amazing how many people on here complain about the new stadium when they don't know all, or any of the facts. CharlieRay- The games will not get rained out!! First of all the afternoon summer showers are at 4-5pm and second of all, this new place has a roof! or sail, or whatever but it keeps the water out when it is raining.
Baseball is meant to be played outside, any true fan of the game knows that. Just go to a game at Fenway, Wrigley, Yankee stadium, St Louis, ect... It doesnt look like you are watching the game in a circus tent or in a Hollywood studio with fake grass. If you want to watch a game in 72 degree weather, stay on your couch. It actually gets hotter in ATL or STL during mid summer but those fans don't consistantly whine about it. And ours would be on the water with a seabreeze! and a roof always over the seated portion so the fans are in the shade.
Next, I guess you will have to turn your complaints to no new taxes, but wait....those are not in the plan either.
Go Rays, give Gomes some more AB's
Posted by: Not an Idiot | April 23, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Brighthouse FSN
I spoke to them about this and they filed a request on my behalf for FSN broadcast. Call them and let them know how you feel. The louder we are the better chance we have for them to carry FSN in our market.
Brighthouse Orlando 407-291-2500
Posted by: Mike/ Oviedo | April 23, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I'm tired of all the idiots who look at Orlando and only see Mickey Mouse. I've been here for 4 years at UCF,and I can tell you this area has way more going on at any given time than the St. Pete area. Try visiting the East side of the city, where we have one of the largest schools in the country, amazing nightlife and one of the nations fastest growing research complexes. And just so you know, we here dont see any of the tourists that pollute Idrive
I was at the game last night and it was a great time. The crowds need to get a little louder, but it was no different that=n any game at the Trop. This series is about getting occaisional fans travelling to games, but mostly to get them watching TV every night. Just think where the Rays would be money-wise if they could get their games off ION and onto a real broadcast station. Speaking for myself, I'd love to see if the Rays can get Brighthouse to stop screwing the Orlando market by refusing to provide FSN here.
Posted by: josh | April 23, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Last nights attendance was 8,269. The Braves drew more than that (for exhibition games) 9 times this spring. There is only one way for the Rays to win over the casual and long distance fan, and that is by winning.
Posted by: Andy | April 23, 2008 at 11:44 AM
this series is not about getting people in Orlando to drive to Rays games. That is a long drive for a game. It is about getting them to watch the games on TV. TV should be a much larger revenue source for the team.
Posted by: Carsvin | April 23, 2008 at 11:39 AM
God, why does every single Rays blog have to turn into a soapbox for people with an agenda?!? CharlieRay, take Justin, Kathleen, and the rest of your cohorts and find more appropriate blog to complain on! I'm not stumping for support for a stadium here, you shouldn't try to solicit opposition...unless you're afraid about a vote in November.
In any event, go find another blog post to gripe on...NOT HERE!
Posted by: Jimbo | April 23, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Funny that half of those trailer parks, Waffle Houses, and amusement parks are populated with Canadians. And its not like Toronto's attendance records are through the roof. They haven't consistently packed the house since the Joe Carter days.
Its pretty tiring to hear columnists rehash the same old cliches regarding the Rays. It seems like most of them are too lazy to do any journalistic work past their beat (even though, the Rays should be a part of their beat seeing as they are in the same division).
C'mon Rays, send them back across the border with a whipping and a 3 game sweep. They'll really hate Orlando then!
Posted by: Nick | April 23, 2008 at 11:03 AM
It's not a bad idea to market here but to think that they will drive all the way to an outdoor park with no AC like they want build in St Pete to be rained out and sent home again is the stupid thing to think or expect.
Posted by: CharlieRay | April 23, 2008 at 10:57 AM
And yet Canadians continue to go to the "trailer parks, Waffle Houses and amusement parks" to see the "'Happiest' Place on Earth".
Hey Pot, you got a call on Line 1....
Posted by: Jimbo | April 23, 2008 at 10:56 AM