Rays Purchase Minority Stake In UFL Tuskers To Expand Brand

Rays Hoping Florida Tuskers Will Help With Extending Baseball Team's Brand

NO PLOY TO RELOCATE: In St. Petersburg, Gary Shelton writes almost immediately after the announcement, there were "those who were concerned this was all just a ploy so Rays officials could buddy up to the Orlando politicians in order to get a new stadium over there. And maybe that would work, except that no one in Orlando seems to care about the Tuskers, either." Shelton adds, "Does this mean the Rays will want a new stadium that also accommodates football? Yes, but that isn't new." Rays President Matt Silverman indicated that the Rays' original plans for a new ballpark "included the possibility of conversion for football" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 8/13).

WHAT'S IN A NAME? The UFL earlier this week unveiled the Redwoods and Locomotives names for franchises in California and Las Vegas, respectively, and syndicated radio host Jim Rome said the California team's name is "not horrible," as redwood trees are "iconic and indigenous to California." Rome: "I get the name, but why not just go with the California Gridlock or the California Botox Injections or the California Smog." However, Rome said of the Locomotives, "You'd think that with a town as colorful as Vegas that the UFL marketing team would come up with something edgy, something with panache. You'd think that, but you'd be wrong. Get ready for your Las Vegas Locomotives." Rome: "I know when I think about Vegas I think about trains. ... Sorry, I'm not going to get fired up on the Sin City Locomotives" ("The Jim Rome Show," 8/12).

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