And speaking of the Rays, their improbable World Series run has brought a welcome economic boost to Pinellas County – from hotel rooms to those Fox Television cut-away shots of beaches that no ad budget could afford.
And don’t forget Port Charlotte, which will begin hosting Rays’ spring training in 2009 – or about four months from now. The hallo effect from a World Series team always includes increased interest and attendance the following spring. The Charlotte Sports Park’s $27-million renovation includes an expansion from 5,000 to 7,000.
No one could have foreseen this when the deal was done in September 2006.