Welcome to the Gameops.com Resource Website

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Six from Six: Gameops.com Team Reviews

In 2006 Gameops.com will feature six game reviews from six teams around sports. We have selected teams across different sports, leagues, levels and markets to hopefully give readers a good variety of subjects.

For these game reviews, we visited each team for a game with one goal: Find six things each team is doing well and discuss how other teams can find similar success by following their lead.

The entire Six from Six Series is now available in a printable document on the Gameops.com Store.

Six from Six: Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Game Notes

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays faced the Boston Red Sox in their 110th game of the season. Attendance was 27,871.

The Devil Rays are currently focusing on being fan friendly and making decisions based on putting the Fan's First. This includes several changes at the ballpark. Tailgating is now not only allowed, but its encouraged. Parking is free around the stadium (the only MLB team to offer that on all team lots). Fans are allowed to bring their own food into the park. The atmosphere is open, friendly and loud (although that was enhanced greatly by Sox fans and cowbells). The Rays ownership clearly understands the importance of building a fan base through goodwill and "fan-first" decisions. Attendance is up 30% and game presentation was at the top of a fans approval rankings in a recent survey.

There are lots of transplants and tourists in the area, so on this night game director, John Franzone, predicted that it would be 70/30 Red Sox to Rays fans.

Early in the game, a "Let's go Red Sox" chant broke out. Boos and Cowbells drown it out.

The end of the sixth inning Curt Shilling struck out the final out with men in scoring position and the pro-Sox crowd exploded making it very clear which fan base had the numbers on this night.

The back-and-forth chants between the fans made the environment something very memorable. Probably not something you could repeat every night, but certainly one that fans in attendance won't soon forget.

Game was reviewed by Gameops.com Editor, Jon Cudo, with staff photographer, Isaac Wood, on August 4, 2006.

See the Photo Gallery from Tampa Bay

Devil Rays Staff

John Franzone - Director of Game Presentation -10 years with the New York Yankees, a quick stop at Disney and he started during the Rays 1998 inaugural season.

Becky Shultz - Field Manager -Responsible for the entertainment team, anthem, and getting people on and off the field

Kimberly Kolinski - On-field host - Former Buccaneers dancer who now handles the MC duties

Raymond - Mascot

Bill Couch - PA Voice

Bill Heald - Music Operator

Ray Team - Interactive Team

The Lessons from Tampa Bay

Lesson 1: Premiums that make a difference
Lesson 2: Make your building as interesting as possible
Lesson 3: REAL fans get the good stuff
Lesson 4: The pre-game matters
Lesson 5: Introduce your teams
Lesson 6: Keep an eye on the future

Lesson 1: Premiums that make a difference

The Rays doubled the number of giveaways this year from last year, and tripled the average number of items given away on most games. Tonight they provided one of the loudest giveaway items, the cowbell. Made famous by the "cow town" Sacramento Kings, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have found their own connection with the "cownose rays" (wiki type of fish) - actually the team admitted the cowbell connection was a "happy accident."

Classic Cowbell clips and Homespun "I need more cowbell" video was used to emphasize and lead the fans. Homer Simpson and Friends clips shown. Apparently Saturday Night Live contacted the team earlier in the year instructing them not to use the famous copyrighted SNL skit starring Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken. The team had enough material to keep the night interesting, but the piece seemed odd in its exclusion.

The Rays really went all out on this. Giving clear instructions on when to use the bells, and instructing fans "Not to use the cowbell for no reason." Video board instructions were played throughout the game and the pre-game included a video piece with a team broadcaster giving two fans clear instructions on when to use the bells and when not to. Well done, since cowbells have the potential to be more obnoxious than any other giveaway.

The bells got off to a great start when the first three batters went to two strikes (which is one of the times fans are instructed to use them).

Note: The reporter next to me in the press box just labeled this, "the most annoying promotion ever" - and it's only the top of the first inning.

The team also featured songs through out the game with cowbells (Mississippi Queen, Don't Fear the Reaper, Down on the Corner) to further connect the giveaway to the game. Their mascot had several props tied into the cowbell and used it effectively to drive the crowd. Completely woven into the game experience at every level.

Lesson 2: Make your building as interesting as possible

Lesson 3: REAL fans get the good stuff

Lesson 4: The pre-game matters

Lesson 5: Introduce your teams

Lesson 6: Keep an eye on the future

The entire Six from Six Series is now available in a printable document on the Gameops.com Store.

Big thanks to John Franzone and the Devil Rays for hosting our final Six From Six. I also want to thank the many teams who have called specifically to comment on the Six From Six series. It has been a great experience to go see these great teams and staff do their thing live. What started as a fun idea to shake up the content on Gameops.com quickly grew into a very popular and anticipated series. We won't be doing another "Six from Six" next year, but we are finalizing another game review series for 2007. Thanks again to all the teams and our readers.

Lesson 1: Build around a Theme (Blue Jackets)
Lesson 2: Great Script Writing Makes a Great Show (Blue Jackets)
Lesson 3: Listen to the fans (Blue Jackets)
Lesson 4: Use Pre-Game to enhance your show (Blue Jackets)
Lesson 5: Use time wisely (Blue Jackets)
Lesson 6: Honor fan participation (Blue Jackets)
Lesson 7: Music ties the show together (Blazers)
Lesson 8: Multiple openings keep the games fresh (Blazers)
Lesson 9: Allow flexibility in your game script (Blazers)
Lesson 10: Connect with the sport and league (Blazers)
Lesson 11: Use simple effects for bright results with lighting effects (Blazers)
Lesson 12: Position Yourself for Success (Blazers)
Lesson 13: Careful placement of elements (Shock)
Lesson 14: Be creative with your premium Items (Shock)
Lesson 15: Setting up powerful moments (Shock)
Lesson 16: Cultivate your staff into your best fans (Shock)
Lesson 17: Stand until you score, bonding your fans (Shock)
Lesson 18: Using Different Voices When Talking to Your Fans (Shock)
Lesson 19: Know your fans and connect with them (Rangers)
Lesson 20: Tell your fans about your players (Rangers)
Lesson 21: Shock your fans (Rangers)
Lesson 22: Customize the music you use the most (Rangers)
Lesson 23: Play off your competition (Rangers)
Lesson 24: Have a back-up plan for EVERY contest (Rangers)
Lesson 25: Spice up your most reoccuring elements (Pirates)
Lesson 26: Use different combinations of technology, performers and sponsorship (Pirates)
Lesson 27: Have fun with your contestants (Pirates)
Lesson 28: Sell yourboard first, then sell everything else (Pirates)
Lesson 29: Building on your success (Pirates)
Lesson 30: Profit from your elements (Pirates)
Lesson 31: Premiums that make a difference (Devil Rays)
Lesson 32: Make your building as interesting as possible (Devil Rays)
Lesson 33: REAL fans get the good stuff (Devil Rays)
Lesson 34: The pre-game matters (Devil Rays)
Lesson 35: Introduce your teams (Devil Rays)
Lesson 36: Keep an eye on the future (Devil Rays)

Six From Six Series from Gameops.com

Bonus: Pepsi 300 Bottle Races

Like the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Rays have an interactive race in-game. Tampa Bay's is with Pepsi brand bottles. We captured the race and have it for you here on video. Or you can see the race on YouTube. Gameops.com also keeps a bunch of YouTube clips related to game operations and entertainment on our Gameops.com Tube page. It's hard to see, but the bullpen players are throwing ice at the bottles, which the fans thought was pretty funny...

The entire Six from Six Series is now available in a printable document on the Gameops.com Store.

Features

Premium Giveaways

Promotions

Resources

Store

Industry Info

Acts & Vendors

About Us

Tampa Bay Devil Rays