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Study Gauges Rays' Effect On Pinellas Tourism In 2008

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - The Tampa Bay Rays have emerged as a major draw to Pinellas County, attracting about 5 percent of the county's expected 5 million-plus overnight visitors in 2008, a consultant report released today states.

What effect that could have on community and business support for finding a location for a new ballpark remains unclear.

The report and the financial impact of visits the Rays are generating are expected to be discussed Thursday morning at a board meeting of the ABC Coalition, a group of county business leaders formed to find an alternative to Tropicana Field as a home for the Rays.

The report by Walter Klages of Research Data Services Inc. of Tampa shows that Rays games in 2008 drew more than 252,000 overnight visitors to Pinellas County.

In addition, nearly 930,000 out-of county residents took a day-trip to Pinellas to watch major league baseball, Klages said. The Rays drew nearly 1.8 million spectators in 2008.

"The findings clearly indicate the impact of the Rays on local tourism," said Michael Kant, senior vice president of development and business affairs for the Tampa Bay Rays. "Whether folks find that useful as they evaluate future ballpark plans, I cannot say."

Direct spending by visitors who came to Pinellas County expressly to see a Rays game was $107.3 million, including $37.3 million by those who did not spend a night in the county.

The findings indicate a little more than one-third of fans who attended Rays games in 2008 were from Pinellas County and a little less than one-third came from Hillsborough County.

The results were compiled from 1,714 surveys at Rays games at Tropicana Field from June 17 to July 7 and 1,229 additional interviews between August and October throughout Pinellas County.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 or tjackovics@tampatrib.com.

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