Tampa Bay Rays: New Name, New Colors, New Logo or Just a Clever Marketing Scheme?

Last year the Tampa Bay Rays got a new name change, as they were formerly the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and debuted new blue and white team logo to replace the green and white old logo. This year, no doubt, due to the logo and color changes they will receive new uniforms. Did you also notice that plans have been announced to build a new Rays stadium?

During my four years living in Florida, I have amassed a great quantity of Rays items: numerous green and white shirts, ball caps, even Rays sandals, but now, it seems as all of my Rays merchandise is going to be obsolete. Most of my Rays clothes have only been worn once or twice and several still have price tags on them. While I could have understood the name change, why the color change too?

As a person who lives in Florida I can consider two facts: a) Florida is in the South, which is part of the "Bible Belt" and b) there really are sea-going rays in the waters here in Florida, as I have seen them with my very own eyes. Interpreting this, I can somewhat understand why they eliminated the "devil" from the "Devil Rays" former name. However, if they had just kept the "Ray" and used the same animal icon it would have been perfectly all right. We have stingrays, manta rays, and various other types of rays in our waters.

Moreover, the elimination of the "devil" would have still allowed the exact same thing that was previously marketed, but in order to make money, everything had to be changed. The new "Rays" logo now looks as if it is a sun ray instead of the former ray (sea animal.) The colors are also a blue and white, which means all new Rays merchandise is going to be made in those colors. Fans hoping to wear their collection of Rays outfits will now have to go out and purchase new clothing if they want to wear the "official" team colors.

So as you can see, changing the name was a personal decision which, if it attracts more fans to become Rays supporters is good, but changing the colors and logo premise is something that hurts current fans, especially those that have spent hundreds of dollars on perfectly good Rays merchandise. Well, I guess I know where part of the money is going to come from so that new stadium can be built.