Red Sox Nation invades Ferg's
We smell trouble.
Red Sox Nation is invading Fergs Sports Bar & Grill tonight, and who knows how that will play out.
Mark Ferguson, owner of the Rays-centric bar, said he was contacted by the Florida Chapter of Red Sox Nation about a fan gathering and he couldn't tell them no.
"They needed somewhere to go," he said.
So how many plan to show up?
"It could be 30 or it could be 3000," said Ferguson, who predicts everyone will be on the best behavior.
-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer
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Boycott the place ...Do you think they would do that in Boston
Posted by: HArley | October 10, 2008 at 07:59 PM
TO BIGGER PROBLEMS AS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER WITH SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE LAW FIELD MY GRASP OF LAW IS JUST FINE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH BOSTON THERE IS NO FRIENDLY RIVALRY. I LOVE IT WHEN TEAMS LIKE MINNESOTA, CHICAGO OR BALTIMORE COME TO TOWN THERE FANS ARE GREAT AND KNOW HOW TO HAVE A FRIENDLY RIVALRY. CERTAIN BOSTON FANS ARE SCUM OF THE EARTH AND PURE TROUBLE LOOKING TO GET INTO TROUBLE. THERE ARE TO MANY OTHER PLACES AROUND TOWN TONIGHT THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THAT WILL NOT BE TICKING TIME BOMBS.
Posted by: MIKE | October 10, 2008 at 07:22 PM
And here's another hypocrite on TV right now....Rick Baker. Don't you own another shirt, Rick? You can shamelessly shill for all the free publicity you can get, but your actual record will cut off your governorship campaign at the knees. Even the people in FL aren't that dumb.
Posted by: stpete1 | October 10, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Call it sour grapes, but I'm an area musician who's been on the receiving end of Ferg's callousness & greed. Does the Beach Shack ring a bell, Mark? He doesn't deserve the accolades, believe me (and his entire staff on St Pete Beach). There ARE a few other aspects of life than the Dollar, but you wouldn't know this from Mark Ferguson, a la this invite to the Red Sox Nation. What a hypocrite.
Posted by: stpete1 | October 10, 2008 at 07:15 PM
say it ain't so!!!
don't let them take over our rays bar.
STAND THE EFF UP!!! C'MON TAMPA BAY!!! PUT IT ON 'EM!!!
Posted by: Josh | October 10, 2008 at 07:09 PM
HARDHAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD NAME FOR AN IDIOT WITH NO BRIAN. MARK BY LAW CAN DO BUSINESS WITH WHOEVER HE WANTS AS LONG AS HE IS NOT REFUSING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM BECAUSE OF RACIAL ISSUES HE CAN LEGALLY REFUSE SERVICE TO THEM. RAYS FANS HAVE SUPPORTED FERG'S THROUGH ALOT OF LEAN TIMES AND NOW WHEN MARK WILL HAVE PLENTY OF BUSINESS FROM RAYS FANS AND HE COULD HAVE A FUN ATMOSPHERE HE HAS DECIDED TO INVITE THERE FAN CLUB INTO THE HEART OF THE BIGGEST RAYS BAR IN THE AREA. WHAT AN IDIOT. HE JUST TURNED FERGS INTO A TIME BOMB. AT THE MINIMUM I EXPECT MULTIPLE FIGHTS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THINGS MUCH WORSE. CERTAIN BOSTON FANS CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO ACT RIGHT IN PUBLIC AND NO MATTER HOW NICE RAYS FANS WILL BE TO THEM THEY WILL ACT LIKE JERKS. THIS WAS MORE THAN PROVED AT THE LAST GAMES AT THE TROP BY MULTIPLE FIGHTS ON THE RAYS SIDE OF THE FIELD. THE BOSTON JERK THAT TRIED TO RUN ON THE FIELD HAD BEEN DRUNK AND OBSCENE FOR SEVEN INNINGS BEFORE BACKSLAPPING A RAYS FAN AND TRING TO MAKE HIS DASH. WHAT A DUMB OWNER FOR HIM TO INSINUATE THAT THEY HAD NO WHERE TO GO WHEN THERE ARE SEVERAL BIG BOSTON BARS AROUND TOWN LIKE BOSTONS OVER IN TAMPA AMONG OTHERS. OUR GROUP OF TEN DO NOT WANT TO PUT OURSELFS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TICKING TIME BOMB AND WILL TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE TO A SAFER ATMOSPHERE. ANYONE WHO GETS HURT AT FERGS TONIGHT SHOULD SUE THE HELL OUT OF MARK FOR PROVIDING THAT DANGEROUS ATMOSPHERE. MARK IS A TRAITOR IN OUR EYES!!!!!
Posted by: MIKE | October 10, 2008 at 07:06 PM
Mike, your grasp of the law is as poor as your grasp of the English language. It isn't "myself and my 8-10 friends." Myself is a reflexive pronoun. What is the big deal anyway? What is wrong with a friendly rivalry?
Posted by: there are bigger problems | October 10, 2008 at 06:54 PM
Oh and people calling the sox the red sux need to check themselves. how many rings do you have oh lets see...NONE. Last year and beyond you sucked so bad. SO how long have all you rays fans been following the team... two , three weeks. GO back to the basement of the AL East where you belong!!! GO sox!!!!
Posted by: mike | October 10, 2008 at 06:53 PM
Sorry rays fans, red sox nation will try to keep it down when theyre celebrating. Sounds like youre scared of them. By the way I'm willing to bet you so called rays fans will desert your team when they get killed!! Its called red sox nation for a reason. Deal with it!! GO SOX, and Cowboy up!
Posted by: mike | October 10, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Maybe all of you Rays "fans" should look back and remember before you guys made the playoffs (what, about a month ago?) and think about how many people actually went to the games let alone Fergs after the games. I used to go to many, many Rays games for the past 5 years and always went to Fergs after. Non Sox games it was EMPTY. The place would completely fill up after the Sox games. Ferg is a business man. He has ALWAYS been nothing but respectful to all of the fans, no matter what who they cheer for. I think you should all stop complaining on a message board and start going to games. All I have heard and read is how the Sox fans are going to fill up our bar or they are going to fill up our stadium...well they wouldn't be able to do that if you guys all got off your butts and went to support your team! Give me a break!!
Posted by: Melissa | October 10, 2008 at 06:45 PM
ha...look at all the pathetic fair weather rays fans...how many of you even know the starting line up from last year when they were in last place...please...you could all learn something from us loyal red sox fans....i just feel bad that you have come this far only to be denied the world series....
Posted by: redsox fan | October 10, 2008 at 06:39 PM
What? MIKE, get a grip you are being a tool, just because they are Sox fans doesn't mean they shouldn't enjoy the city. You can't just BAN them, man, no matter how much you would like to.
Posted by: Hardhat0038 | October 10, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Go Rays! I don't care where they party, as long as there are more Rays fans.....
Posted by: Hardhat0038 | October 10, 2008 at 06:29 PM
RAYS FANS SHOULD BOYCOTT FERG'S FROM NOW ON!!! MARK FERGUSON IS A TRAITOR TO THE RAYS REPUBLIC. MYSELF AND 8 TO 10 FRIENDS WERE GOING TO GO TO FERG'S EVERY GAME AND NOW WE ALL WILL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
Posted by: MIKE | October 10, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Ray Byron: Your response would be better served if you weren't the brother-in-law of one of the owners of Savannah's buwahhhhahahah! You're too funny, man!
Stick with Ferg's Rays fans! Mark is a TRUE BLUE Rays fan! There isn't a trueuer or bluer fan than him!
Posted by: Ollie Brown | October 10, 2008 at 06:22 PM
I'm totally happy for Mark Ferguson! He deserves all of this success! He is the ONE TRUE RAYS fan here. This guy started Ferg's BEFORE there was a Devil Rays or Rays team in St. Pete and BEFORE they ever won their first game. I hope he makes a million bucks off of the Boston fans!! hahaha!
Posted by: Mel | October 10, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Just be cool, guys. I hate the Redsox with all I have in me, but I respect the fans who are not ditching their team. We are all baseball fans, and we need to treat each other with respect. Think about how rude and obnoxious fans in NY and Boston are, we dont want to be that, do we? THe Rays deserve better fans. DOnt give any Sox fans any crap just because they are bold enough to cheer for their team. I have gone many places over the last few years in Rays gear and have had my experience ruined because the local fans were jerks. Be cool, and GO RAYS!!!
Posted by: Lori | October 10, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Rays fans, show them how to treat people.
Don't be like them.....................
Buy them a beer, and maybe they won't have to be such morons................
My 2 brothers are sox fans but I'am not
GO RAYS
Posted by: Kevin | October 10, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Dave-
Luckily, the police station is directly across the street from Ferg's. Should at least be a deterrent for anyone with shenanigans on their mind.
Posted by: Amanda | October 10, 2008 at 05:39 PM
As a card-carrying member of the Nation, I'm just going to say that anyone engaging in violent behavior needs to face criminal charges. Ferg's can help the situation by not overserving. In fact, it may be best if the cops were present to curb any hot tempers.
Posted by: Dave W | October 10, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Please, Rays fans, don't act like the bad Red Sox fans. Just try to have some fun!
Posted by: nancy | October 10, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Oh..., the impulsive and emotional sport fans.
Posted by: | October 10, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Make them "Paak the Caa in Haaavaaad Yaaad" and walk to Fergs
Posted by: Rayhawk | October 10, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Yeah, I suppose, Amanda. Calling ahead and asking if a a group meeting of Sox fans can watch the game there is a mixed bag, at least based on reading the initial post in the blog.
On the one hand, it has the appearance of an in your face, look out here we come gesture; seemingly obnoxious.
On the other hand, it also has the appearance of knowing this sports bar carries the games, and is a good place with which to do that. Asking ahead if they can come seems kind of courteous.
Either way, it seems to me that the idea this bar is willing to let Sox fans in is the real heart of the matter, not that the Sox fans chose the venue. Hopefully, it is much ado about nothing and no one gets too territorial, or aggressive; it's baseball after all, not life and death.
You said it best, C'est la vie!
Posted by: Tru | October 10, 2008 at 05:01 PM
Most of you people complaining on here are a bunch of Moron's.
The guy's in business to make money. Why should he turn anyone away?
Personally, I don't go to Ferg's on game day. It's over-priced and over-crowded, but you can't blame the guy for making the money when he can.
Posted by: Ron | October 10, 2008 at 04:59 PM
to Tru - Boston Fan...How gracious of you!
Posted by: Mary | October 10, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Tru-
Sox fans coming to the bar to watch the game and hang out, we expect. It's just the fact that it's a formalized group that actually called ahead to announce that they were holding an official gathering there that made it different. See where I'm coming from?
Posted by: Amanda | October 10, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Thanks for the reply, Amanda. I'm coming to the Trop, and going to the game with an old neighbor who has lived in the Tampa area for more than five years.
He's a pretty big Rays fan and if you must know, he's hung out at Game On, which is next door to the Cask.
While not quite the same thing, there is the idea that these bars are filled with Sox fans, and often times visiting fans, well before first pitch; it's been that way for a lot of years.
Nonetheless, it's almost game time, and I'm excited, as this series will be tough, with each team more than capable of walking away with the 4 wins. As an additional note, your guys have proven they are more than worthy to be where they find themselves; played hard all season, fought through injuries and are no pushovers.
Posted by: Tru | October 10, 2008 at 04:50 PM
Red Sox Nation? Are they that so self-conscious about being in the shadow of the Yankees for 80 years that they all of the sudden started a nation? For god's sake, they made a movie about the crappiness of your franchise and the pathetic nature of their fans (Fever Pitch)that was only changed when hell froze over and they won a championship. Before that, they were the home of Buckner.
Who is included in this nation? Do they issue visas or passports? Can we revoke them for traveling outside of south boston (though I doubt any of the ones down here have ever been there or ridden the T). Is every person from up north that wasnt a yankees fan growing up just latched onto David Ortiz's teet (no straight man calls another one Big Papi) so they have something to say to the guy in the trailer next to them? And most of all, when your "sox" arent in town, why do you show up to a game wearing a Boston jersey (guys wearing jerseys is another topic that needs to be discussed and formally outlawed).
This since of "nationalism" is dangerous. I can see and enjoy cheering for your hometown team or showing pride in your region, but you are not a nation. The last time the world saw this many self-loathing people group together in common hatred of another group and "invade," Hitler was the one leading the cheers.
Posted by: Wow | October 10, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Tru-
Yeah, there's bandwagoning any time a team suddenly starts winning. C'est la vie. Rather fill our stadium with bandwagon fans than have it empty, though.
As far as the problem with the bar... it's just the principle of it, really. Like I said before, Ferg's is known as THE Rays bar, and it would be like a Rays fan group holding an event at the Cask n' Flagon on game day.
Best of luck to you, as well.
Posted by: Amanda | October 10, 2008 at 04:44 PM
I'm wondering about this Ferg's.
Knowing that throughout the 2008 season, so many tickets to the Trop went unsed, why is there such a complaint from locals?
It would seem that the bulk of these people would have been at Tropicana Field for the games, rooting for their team. Instead, there's complaints about people hanging out at a bar?
It would appear that there's a whole bunch of band-waggoning going on down in St. Pete...
As for the behavior of Boston fans, there's no one here who can point at any fan base, regardless of sport and say they're all hooligans and punks. There are some fans from Boston (yeah, that would be me), coming down to watch the games (tomorrow night), and it will not be in a bar.
Whose seat did I take?
Best of Luck in the Series...
Posted by: Tru | October 10, 2008 at 04:39 PM
"All bars have the right to NOT serve people."
You'd think so, but that's not the case, exactly. The reason you think that bars have that right is because of those signs you see, right? Well, those signs are what GIVES them the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. They're like a disclaimer (I didn't know all this before earlier today, when I did some research). Like I said earlier, without those signs or a really good reason (I mean one that's going to stand up in court), refusing them service is grounds for a discrimination suit.
Posted by: Amanda | October 10, 2008 at 04:28 PM
Real Rays fans wouldn't patronize Ferg's to begin with. The guy is a total tool and a sellout. I know he's in business to make money. However, at what point do you show your stones dropped and act like you have a pair? All bars have the right to NOT serve people. If Mark Ferguson were worth a damn, he'd tell his barkeeps to not serve those idiots. Those Red Sox fans all belong about 10 blocks west on Central Ave. anyway.
Posted by: Rob | October 10, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Its all about making money. Play nice and everyone have a good time. Rays will Win so whats the big deal
Posted by: Tim | October 10, 2008 at 04:13 PM
No doubt! Relax, The man has a business to run. You all act like there will be no Rays fans there. Chill.
Posted by: mm | October 10, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Say it ain't so, Ferg. Gee, if you're hurting for money, perhaps we patrons can take up a collection. I'll wager that Rays fans will not be treated as cordially at any bar in the filthy city of Boston. A suggestion for you-the next time an organization that has undisputedly some of the most obnoxious fans in the country calls, tell them to go...
Posted by: Ray | October 10, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Calm down, everyone, Amanda's right. If he doesn't "Reserve the right to refuse service to anyone," he'd go out of business with all the lawsuits he'd lose. That'd also be VERY bad to do something like that across from the SPPD HQ, wouldn't you think?
I think he needs to go hang out outside really quick and tell them he changed his mind ;-)
Posted by: Jimbo | October 10, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Why couldn't he tell them "no"? He's the owner for cryin' out load and he knows his place will be packed. A simple, "were full" would have sufficed. These people are LOOKING for trouble--what a shock.
Posted by: | October 10, 2008 at 04:00 PM
After all the free press he got from the Times and he goes and pulls this
Posted by: Tom | October 10, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Ferg is a sell out, he caters to the suxs everytime they are in town
Posted by: Bill | October 10, 2008 at 03:57 PM
So, I did some searching around. Apparently when Ferg said he "couldn't tell them no", he meant it. By law.
Unless Ferg's has a sign up somewhere that explicitly says "We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to Anyone", he HAS to let them come. Otherwise, it's considered discrimination and a lawsuit can be brought against him. Absolutely ridiculous, but true.
Does Ferg's have such a sign? I've never noticed one there, but I've never really looked for it, either. If there is a sign, he can tell them to get lost. If there isn't, he HAS to let them in.
Posted by: Amanda | October 10, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Couldn't tell them no?? Maybe the Rays fans should tell Mark NO by not showing up at Ferg's tonight. Traitor.
Posted by: JR | October 10, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Oh yea..."I couldn't tell them no" he says with a wry smile. You just did damage to your business. Talk about no class. My party people will all remember this. JUST SAY NO TO FERGS!
Posted by: | October 10, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Get there early and make them stand around. Hope no one spills beer on them!
Posted by: JB | October 10, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Hey Mike, tried that. Some punk wearing a Braves hat and rooting for the Sox last time they were here because "they're the world champions" got PO'd when I reminded him about 86 years. The bandwagoners have no idea what you're talking about with that and think you're just making it up.
Yeah, Amanda, it's sad, but true. The Red Sox fans have forgotten the LONG road they had to travel and act like they won their 7 titles in 20 years. Conveniently, 1919-2003 was erased from the history books in Massachusetts. Go figure!
Posted by: Jimbo | October 10, 2008 at 03:45 PM
BUCK FOSTON
Posted by: | October 10, 2008 at 03:45 PM
I agree.......Ferg missed out on a great opportunity to say, Hey Red Sox Nation, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME!
Posted by: Bill | October 10, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Ferg's is right across the street from the St Pete Police Dept. The cells will be full of RED SOX NATION....less at the game the better..
GO RAYS!!!
Posted by: LB | October 10, 2008 at 03:39 PM
does anybody really expect anything different from a bunch of boston fans honestly? just ask them about pre-2004 boston teams and humiliate them.
Posted by: Mike | October 10, 2008 at 03:39 PM
TimeToParty-
Nobody's crying. We're all just a little surprised because we're still used to the Yankees fans being the douchebags of the AL. We know you guys are now loud and proud about taking over that title. It's just that most of us remember back when Red Sox fans were a classy and fun-loving bunch. Don't worry, we're quickly adjusting to your new self-proclaimed status.
Posted by: Amanda | October 10, 2008 at 03:36 PM