This website has often discussed the self-interest of local areas of Tampa Bay and how sometimes they clash with regional sports interests. This happens quite often as Tampa, Clearwater, Dunedin, and Bradenton all host Spring Training and attempt to increase local and tourism revenue. As I have said plenty of times, any local dollar spent on those teams is a dollar not spent on the Tampa Bay Rays.
Normally, I am a lone voice. But on Friday night, opposition to one community's local interest became a roar.
According to many tweets, the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau supplied local Pittsburgh Penguins fans with rally towels similar to those handed out in Pittsburgh. These towels stated "Let's Go Pens" and listed the names of Bradenton area communities. This marketing campaign did not sit well with regional Tampa Bay Lightning fans who started the hashtag #BoycottBradenton and flooded the Bradenton Facebook page with comments opposing the campaign.
In response, the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau issued a statement and tried to save face by wishing both the Lightning and the Penguins luck in their playoff games, adding ..
"Throughout the state of Florida, it is common for destination marketing organizations to have out-of-state partnerships through sports marketing initiatives, including major league teams."This is a sad example of trying to play both sides of the fence. This happens far too often in the Tampa Bay area, and the Bradenton Visitors Bureau got called out on it. This is no different than when Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn wears a Yankees jersey or the Tampa Sports Authority works out a deal with the Yankees while attempting to negotiate with the Rays.
The Bradenton Visitor Center's statement that
we have and will continue to support the Tampa Bay Lightning through our annual marketing initiatives and wish both teams the best of luck in the Eastern Conference Finals
sounds a lot like when I called out the Twitter account of Hillsborough County for their support of the Yankees.
@TBBaseballMkt Proud to support baseball in #TampaBay! Many teams call our area home in the spring. Summer's a different ballgame... #RaysUp
— ⚡️ #Boltsborough ⚡️ (@HillsboroughFL) June 20, 2015
Unfortunately for the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, they weren't campaigning against the Rays, but against the popular local hockey team. By doing so, they stepped in a big pile of conflicted local interest.
This marketing misstep revealed some interesting facts about the Bradenton Visitors Bureau. A quick google of Elliott Falcione, their executive director, reveals he used to be the Assistant Director of Operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He assumed his current position in June 2011. There is little doubt this move was to solidify the bond between the Pirates and the City of Bradenton. It is not coincidence the next year, Bradenton city officials approved renovations for McKechnie Field, spring home of the Pirates.
According to the Bradenton Herald,
As part of the deal, the Pittsburgh Pirates plan to increase the amount they spend on marketing from $150,000 to $400,000 annually. The money will be used to promote tourism in Manatee County.Perhaps this is where the money for the towels came from.
The close relationship between Bradenton and the Pirates was also evident when Falcione threw out the first pitch at PNC Park in Pittsburgh in August 2013 on "Bradenton Day". There is little doubt where Falcione's interests lie.
Despite these ties, the Pittsburgh area is only seventh among the origin of Bradenton tourists, behind Orlando, Tampa/St.Pete, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Now we have to wonder about the fallout of #BoycottBradenton. Will it affect the Bradenton Marauders in any way? Could they lose sponsors? Could they lose attendance?
Currently, through Game 16 of their season, the Marauders are averaging 1,384 fans per game. This is already 553 fans per game lower than their 2015 per game average at the same point in the season.
To the Marauders advantage, they are on a road trip until May 20th, which is the date of Game 4 of the Lightning-Penguins series. It is possible the series could end that night and #BoycottBradenton might not have to time to gain momentum.
If #BoycottBradenton builds, however, it may be possible Lightning fans in the Bradenton area refuse to spend their dollars at McKechnie Field. If that happens, Marauders attendance could drop severely. Minor League attendance doesn't rely on tourists like Spring Training does.
Of course, the Bradenton Visitors Bureau will still have to the Pirates coming in February 2017 and if that is where they are focusing their marketing effort - on the 15 games and two months of Spring Training - then appealing to the Pittsburgh market is a smart move, even if it is counter to the rooting interests of the rest of the Tampa Bay region.
But we have to wonder what would happen if the skate was on the other foot. What if the Rays trained in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, would those municipalities root for the Lightning instead of the Penguins?
Probably not.
Only in Tampa Bay do we have this problem.