D-Rays Managing General Partner Vince Naimoli is
"unhappy with the response from area merchants" toward the D-
Rays, according to Marc Topkin of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES.
Naimoli said that he "doesn't understand why stores are not
stocking up" on team, "why area businesses are not posting
signs and countdown to Opening Day clocks," or why hotels and
motels are not buying season-tickets and planning promos.
Naimoli: "People just don't appreciate how big this is going
to be." Naimoli said while the response to luxury suite
sales and sponsorships -- "essentially from the area's larger
corporations" -- has been "strong," it is the "perceived lack
of interest from smaller businesses" that has "caught his
eye." Naimoli, noting the lack of D-Ray merchandise in area
stores: "We get complaints from people all the time that they
can't buy our merchandise, and they're right." Topkin notes
that the D-Rays "might share some of that blame" as the team
has no retail outlets of its own in Pinellas or Hillsborough
counties (ST. PETE. TIMES, 3/16).
