NOW THAT'S PROGRESS! SPONSOR GIVES D'RAYS $5M PAYMENT

          FL Progress Corp. "dramatically increased its support"
     of the Devil Rays with a $5M lump-sum payment in August,
     "expanding its role" as one of the team's biggest corporate
     sponsors, according to Kyle Parks of the ST. PETERSBURG
     TIMES.  FL Progress paid the money as part of a new
     sponsorship deal that runs through 2007.  The company had
     "previously committed" $125,000 a year for ten years for a
     luxury suite at Tropicana Field plus an estimated $750,000 a
     year in annual payments for sponsorship and promotions.  But
     the "revised agreement" increased the package to $770,000
     for the next seven years and added the $5M payment.  Parks
     adds that in 2007, FL Progress, which already has a $5M
     ownership stake in the team, can take any money that hasn't
     been used and "turn it into equity for the team."  FL
     Progress and team officials said that the deal wasn't a
     "financial bailout," and that the payment "came at an
     opportune time," as the team "stands to post" an $8M
     operating loss this year (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 11/12).