Tampa Bay Gets ABA BAsketball Team Tampa Bay RAIN start play Fall 2012 tickets on sale now

Nov. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- TAMPA, Nov. 17, 2011 - A new era of pro basketball in Tampa is about to tip off. The Tampa Bay RAIN, a new professional franchise in the fast-growing American Basketball Association (ABA), today announced that the team will start its inaugural season next fall at the Florida Fairgrounds Expo hall for 15 of its 30 regular season games. Tryouts will begin in April 2012.

The team management, consisting of nine Tampa Bay area directors under leadership of Stephen Davis, CEO of Steve Davis Financial Investors LLC, has released Tampa Bay RAIN tickets for sale at www.tampabayrain.com, TIX.com and the Fairgrounds Arena. The team's ticket prices are $15, $25 and $60 for single-game tickets, and season tickets (including special VIP courtside seats) available from $225 to $900. Tickets can be purchased at www.tampabayrain.com , www.tix.com or by visiting or calling the Box Office at 800-504-4849
   
"Today marks the start of a new and exciting era of professional basketball in Tampa," said Tampa Bay RAIN CEO Stephen Davis. “Our main goal is to deliver the excitement of high caliber pro basketball and to build a solid and supportive fan base. We also intend to be a winning team off the court and in our community,” added Davis.  That is why the Tampa Bay RAIN has committed to investing back into our community by donating 5 percent of all annual season ticket sales to selected charities.  The first recipients are: the H.O.P.E. Learning Center and Computer Mentors, both of East Tampa.

The ABA has included some of the game's greatest players, legends including Julius Erving, Moses Malone and George Gervin. The organization believes the new ABA and the Tampa Bay RAIN will also produce future stars and legends. "We are pleased to give talented players a chance to pursue their dream in a great city. We're out to prove that Tampa and pro basketball will be a winning combination."

The search for a head coach of the Tampa Bay RAIN will start immediately.
“We believe in the ABA and we believe Tampa bay is ready for a professional basketball team like the Tampa Bay RAIN. It’s up to our community to help us build our fan base and to bring exciting basketball to our City.

There are several teams in the Tampa Bay RAIN division, including The Jacksonville Giants with a 23-0 last season record, which set a new ABA single season record. The ABA is a rapidly growing and successful league with almost ninety teams. There is a wealth of talent in the league because only a handful of draft choices and free agents make it to the NBA each year. The ABA draws on the deep pool of basketball talent that is available nationally and internationally. For more information on the Tampa Bay RAIN, visit www.tampabayRAIN.com . To learn more about the ABA, visit www.abalive.com.

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