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Pitching The Rays To A Downtown Audience

scott iskowitz/tampa tribune)

Chris Lahey, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs for the Rays at the downtown Tampa office. (

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

DOWNTOWN - Chris Lahey was hired by the Tampa Bay Rays when the team opened a downtown office in August.

His ground-floor space in the 36-story Park Tower office building is in the back of the Rays retail area. It's decorated with huge murals to give ticket buyers a glimpse of Tropicana Field.

As senior director of corporate affairs, Lahey's job is to sell tickets and give the team a presence in Tampa - to help change negative opinions about traveling across Tampa Bay to get to a baseball game.

"Fans can grab lunch and then boom, you're in our storefront for tickets and merchandise," said Lahey, 38, who commutes from Citrus Park, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

Lahey, who previously worked in the University of South Florida's athletic department, is spending his time joining nonprofit boards and network groups, and making calls on downtown businesses.

He said the Rays will hold more events at downtown's Lykes Gaslight Square Park, such as the one in December when players signed autographs to mark the unveiling of the team's new name and logo.

The Rays store is at 400 N. Tampa St., Suite 110. For information, call (813) 228-7167 or e-mail clahey@raysbaseball.com.

Janis D. Froelich

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