Toronto Blue Jays Tickets For A Day At Rogers Centre
Friday, May 14, 2010
The Toronto Blue Jays have been affiliated with the American League and East Division since their formation in 1977. Originally as an expansion franchise, they have been nicknamed "The Jays" but take their actual name from the bird who shares the same. The blue jay is colorfully featured as part of their jersey and cap logo with the team colors of blue, black, graphite, silver, white and red. Another nickname the team has been known for is "Blue Birds". As the only team outside the U.S. that has ever won an American League World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays got off to a decent start in 1977 with their first game played against the Chicago White Sox. A home crowd of nearly 45,000 was present to cheer the players on. This first game is most memorable for the snowstorm that had started just before the game began.
The snow didn't stop the team from winning that opening game with two home runs by player Doug Ault. The Toronto Blue Jays went on to win 53 more games in the 1977 season but finished in the very last place of the East Division of the American League. The next year, the team improved their record but still could not pull themselves up out of last place in the AL rankings. As the 70s rounded to a close, Alfredo Griffin became the AL co-Rookie of the year in 1979 and the team introduced their original mascot, BJ Birdie, to the world.
In the 80's, Bobby Cox came on board as the new manager and in 1982, they Toronto Blue Jays finished the season 78-84. It appeared the finish last tendencies had been put to sleep as the team finished 89-73 in 1984. That same year, Tony Fernandez was brought on board after Griffin was traded to the Oakland Athletics. The next year, the Toronto Blue Jays won their first AL East Division title. By the 90s, the Blue Jays were the first Major League ball club to have more than 4 million fans attend their games in just one season.
The 90s also represented the time when the Blue Jays added another AL East Division title to their growing list of accomplishments. It was all the historic point where the Blue Jays came head to head with the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. Back to back in 1992 and 1993, the Blue Jays took home the much sought after and well deserved World Series title. The team has not brought home any pennants or titles since those fortunate seasons of the 90s but with new management under Alex Anthopoulos and changes made in the dugout as well as on the field, the upcoming season should be a fascinating one to say the least.
All of the home games ahead will be played at Rogers Centre located at One Blue Jays Way in Toronto, Ontario. Since June, 1989, this venue has been where the Blue Jays have entertained the competition to create a name for the team. Originally named SkyDome from 1989 to 2005, Rogers Centre started out with AstroTurf for the field surface through 2004 but switched to FieldTurf until this year when AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D was put into place for the 2010 season.
Rogers Centre has expansive capacity for baseball games with seating choices for 49,539 seats which doesn't include the 3,434 private box seats available. Both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Argonauts have been tenants in Rogers Centre since its opening in 1989. Other tenants have included the Toronto Raptors. The rename of the venue came when Rogers Communication purchased the trouble stadium and renamed it to the current name.
Let Ticket America put you close to the action with Toronto Blue Jays tickets. Rogers Centre is a spacious, luxury venue that provides great sites from many locations around the stadium.
Posted bySpurs at 8:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tickets And A Day At Tropicana Field
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Think you know all there is to know about the Tampa Bay Devil Rays? Well, you may be surprised to learn that although this team has only been around since the late 90s they have made sure to work diligently at starting to carve out a niche for their franchise. Established in 1998, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays held the name until 2008, at which time their name was changed to Tampa Bay Rays. Team colors are navy blue, Columbia blue, white and gold. Known affectionately as "The Rays", the Tampa Bay Rays were awarded inclusion into the minor leagues back in 1995 when they tapped Chuck LaMar as their assistant general manager. A year later, the team was playing their first minor league game in the 1996 season.
The following year, for the expansion draft held in November, 1997, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired 35 new players. More players were added to the team in the years to come, like Kevin Stocker, who was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies nearly as quickly as he was acquired. The next year, their first game in March, 1998 was against the Detroit Tigers. The crowd was a sizeable 45,369 and Wade Boggs made the first home run in the team's history. They didn't win the open header but the season went well that year and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays went on a 19-game winning streak before suffering nearly 100 losses that same year.
Some other great names associated with this team include Randy Winn, Jose Canseco, Greg Vaughn, Miguel Cairo and Vinny Castilla. Boggs is the only member of the team whose number has been retired to date and it came as no surprise. In 1999, Boggs racked up his 300th hit on a home run. He is the only member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to ever do so. Boggs was later also inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the year 2005.
The 2004 season was the best finish for the team ever with a record of 70-91. Front office and management changes in the time frame after the 2005 season ended brought new blood in. Chuck LaMar was fired and the focus turned to the younger players like Carl Crawford, Jorge Cantu and Rocco Baldelli. Many trades would come next as the team changed hands with their leaders. Outfielders, infielders, shortstops and utility players alike were put on the block and traded to other teams in exchange for perceivably better players.
Although the team was subsequently involved in two rare triple plays in the 2006, they did end the season with a winning record at home of 41-40. It was the first time the team accomplished such a feat and it resulted in an increase in home attendance.
Tropicana Field, located at One Tropicana Drive in St. Petersburg, Florida has been the home of the Rays since it's opening in 1990. Prior to that, the venue was known by the names of the Florida Suncoast Dome from 1990 to 1993 and the Thunderdome from 1993 to 1996. Astro turf was the original playing surface but the field currently surfaced with FieldTurf and has a dirt infield. Seating capacity in 1998 was 45,369 but with upgrades to seating, added amenities and refashioned concessions, was changed to 43,772; a total that does not include the tarp covered seats.
Tropicana Field has been home to other Tampa teams including the Tampa Bay Storm and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ironically enough, when the stadium was finished, it did not have any tenants. It wasn't until 1993 that the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning came along and later in 1995 before the Tampa Bay Rays moved in.
Ticket America can help you land the best seats in the house with Tampa Bay Devil Rays tickets for some of the hottest games coming up this season. Experiencing Tropicana Field in person makes every game lively and intense and Ticket America can take you there.
Posted bySpurs at 7:23 PM 0 comments
Labels: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
New York Yankees Tickets For A Day At Yankee Stadium
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Their name alone brings to mind some of the greatest games in the history of baseball. You may be a fan who is young or old or anywhere in between and what you share with each person who admires and appreciates this team is a history built on performance and a whole lot of excitement. There is no question that the New York Yankees are a great franchise. Throughout their history they have been creating many wonderful memories for fans, coaches and their fellow players by playing some of the greatest baseball games in the entire history of baseball in America and that may be to understand the true talents and abilities of the New York Yankees.
Think championship games and the name of the New York Yankees must come to mind. Engage in a conversation about a team that has demonstrated time and again the ability to take themselves to the very top of baseball's finest and again, the New York Yankees are at the top of the list in such a discussion. In other words, the New York Yankees are recognized in the United States and around the world as one of the best of the best when it comes to baseball. This does not mean that the team is without imperfections and challenges in team members, coach, staff and even playing venues but throughout history, the New York Yankees have stood in line behind very few teams when it comes to playing some great baseball.
Known by nicknames such as "The Bronx Bombers", 'The Yanks", "The Bronx Zoo" and "The Pinstripers, the New York Yankees have retired numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 42, 44 and 49 to date. When it comes to major league titles, the New York Yankees have won the World Series 27 times, AL Pennants 40 times, East Division 16 times and Wild Card berths 3 times. The Baseball Hall of Fame has inducted 44 of the New York Yankees over the history of this franchise. Great players like Babe Ruth, Yogi Berra, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle are some of the top names in baseball, hands down.
An interesting tidbit of history is that this franchise began in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles. In 1903, they moved to New York and took on the name of the New York Highlanders. The team was officially renamed to the New York Yankees in 1913. At the start, the team's home games were held at Oriole Park. From 1913 to 1922, the home games were held at the Polo Grounds, which were also known as Brush Stadium. For one year, from 1974 to 1975, the New York Yankees played at Shea Stadium.
All home games are currently held at the new Yankee Stadium which was opened in 2009. The playing surface is Kentucky Blue Grass. The current stadium cost $1.5 billion to construct and is a state of the art facility that has a seating capacity of 50,086 that expands to 52,325 with stand room only options included for concerts and similar venues.
Visitors to this modern stadium, located at East 161st Street and River Avenue in Bronx, New York, can enjoy a center field scoreboard that has a view area that's a whopping 5,925 square feet. More than 1100 HD video monitors are strategically placed around the stadium. The clubhouse is 30,000 square feet of space that includes indoor batting catches and an underwater treadmill in a hydrotherapy pool.
Conveniently located for access by subway, bus and private vehicle, the new Yankee Stadium is the epitome of fan appreciation and player facilities excellent.
Get great seats and pricing options to suit virtually any budget with New York Yankees tickets from Ticket America. Yankee Stadium is a fascinatingly historic venue where you can experience the action of a New York Yankees game live and in person.
Posted bySpurs at 12:38 AM 0 comments
