The Tampa Bay Devil Rays changed thier name because many religious advocates did not approve the use of “Devil” in the name of a nation-wide sports team.
gobiasindustries,
April 7, 2009:
They didn’t want to be associated with the Devil. I wouldn’t want to be associated with Tampa Bay.
Tyler,
April 9, 2009:
The New Jersey Devils, there associated with the Devil name, they probley did it so they can stop sucking, but until you stop playing at that dump you call a baseball field you will always suck.
Nicholas H,
April 11, 2009:
Because major league baseball didn’t like people saying ‘Devil’. I totally have to agree with you, it is pointless.
Dennis,
April 14, 2009:
It’s all about merchandise. If something in the world of sports isn’t making enough money, it’s changed. Some exapmles: Motreal Expos to Washington Nationals, Seattle Seahawks jersey change, Atlanta Hawks jersey change, green Red Sox jerseys, the D-Backs changing jersey colors, Padres camo, the Astros, the A’s. The list goes on, it’s all about money.
la ta di da,
April 15, 2009:
They’re trying to make everyone believe they’re not the same crappy bottom of the barrel team you normaly see in Tampa. It isn’t working.
Sharon S,
April 18, 2009:
They wanted to change their losing image. They dropped the devil, got new colors and hopefully a new stadium. Hopefully this will pan out for them. It is hard for them to compete in this division.
Zanome NYY,
April 21, 2009:
Trying to reinvent itself, the perennial last-place team officially shortened its nickname to simply “Rays” during a celebration that brought a crowd of about 7,000 to a downtown park Thursday night.
New team colors and uniforms also were unveiled during a fashion show featuring current players, as well as manager Joe Maddon, senior advisor Don Zimmer and former Tampa Bay stars Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff as models.
Navy blue and light blue have replaced green and black as the primary colors. The club’s new logo, as well as the home and road uniforms for next season, feature the word “Rays” in navy blue lettering with a light blue shadow.
Team officials and local fans have routinely referred to the club as “Rays” for much of the expansion team’s existence, however it wasn’t until Stuart Sternberg took over as principal owner two years ago that consideration as given an actual name change.
SF Giants Fan 4 Life,
April 23, 2009:
becasue they want to start FRESH
and the devil can be used
there are the New Jersey Devils in Hockey
Awe-Inspired,
April 26, 2009:
It’s because they’re a losing franchise and they just need a change and thought changing the name would turn it around.
It’s not because of religion matters, that’s ridiculous. If that was the case, the New Jersey Devils, Duke Blue Devils, Wake Forest Demon Decans, Arizona State Sun Devils would all change their names. It’s a name and it has nothing to do with god or religion.
Matt T knows nothing of the name changed, he’s making it up just to sound good.
red4tribe,
April 26, 2009:
Marketing. They thought the fancier name would attract more fans.
Tim,
April 28, 2009:
“Devil” has always been a problem since their inception ten years ago. There were other names the team thought about going with. And when they went with “Devil Rays” a lot of people were upset about it. But the term “Devil” is not something anyone wants to be associated with, and maybe they think it’s been bad luck. Plus religious advocates wanted it to be gone.
shiloh,
April 30, 2009:
Change the team name, change the team colors. It all about marketing and making money. Nobody was buying their old hats and jerseys. It’s a way to generate revenue when your team sucks.
1954,
May 2, 2009:
Because Satan was send down to the minors and is no longer hitting cleanup.
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The Tampa Bay Devil Rays changed thier name because many religious advocates did not approve the use of “Devil” in the name of a nation-wide sports team.
They didn’t want to be associated with the Devil. I wouldn’t want to be associated with Tampa Bay.
The New Jersey Devils, there associated with the Devil name, they probley did it so they can stop sucking, but until you stop playing at that dump you call a baseball field you will always suck.
Because major league baseball didn’t like people saying ‘Devil’. I totally have to agree with you, it is pointless.
It’s all about merchandise. If something in the world of sports isn’t making enough money, it’s changed. Some exapmles: Motreal Expos to Washington Nationals, Seattle Seahawks jersey change, Atlanta Hawks jersey change, green Red Sox jerseys, the D-Backs changing jersey colors, Padres camo, the Astros, the A’s. The list goes on, it’s all about money.
They’re trying to make everyone believe they’re not the same crappy bottom of the barrel team you normaly see in Tampa. It isn’t working.
They wanted to change their losing image. They dropped the devil, got new colors and hopefully a new stadium. Hopefully this will pan out for them. It is hard for them to compete in this division.
Trying to reinvent itself, the perennial last-place team officially shortened its nickname to simply “Rays” during a celebration that brought a crowd of about 7,000 to a downtown park Thursday night.
New team colors and uniforms also were unveiled during a fashion show featuring current players, as well as manager Joe Maddon, senior advisor Don Zimmer and former Tampa Bay stars Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff as models.
Navy blue and light blue have replaced green and black as the primary colors. The club’s new logo, as well as the home and road uniforms for next season, feature the word “Rays” in navy blue lettering with a light blue shadow.
Team officials and local fans have routinely referred to the club as “Rays” for much of the expansion team’s existence, however it wasn’t until Stuart Sternberg took over as principal owner two years ago that consideration as given an actual name change.
becasue they want to start FRESH
and the devil can be used
there are the New Jersey Devils in Hockey
It’s because they’re a losing franchise and they just need a change and thought changing the name would turn it around.
It’s not because of religion matters, that’s ridiculous. If that was the case, the New Jersey Devils, Duke Blue Devils, Wake Forest Demon Decans, Arizona State Sun Devils would all change their names. It’s a name and it has nothing to do with god or religion.
Matt T knows nothing of the name changed, he’s making it up just to sound good.
Marketing. They thought the fancier name would attract more fans.
“Devil” has always been a problem since their inception ten years ago. There were other names the team thought about going with. And when they went with “Devil Rays” a lot of people were upset about it. But the term “Devil” is not something anyone wants to be associated with, and maybe they think it’s been bad luck. Plus religious advocates wanted it to be gone.
Change the team name, change the team colors. It all about marketing and making money. Nobody was buying their old hats and jerseys. It’s a way to generate revenue when your team sucks.
Because Satan was send down to the minors and is no longer hitting cleanup.