“Gay fan days” are a rather new development in the Sunshine State. In the last couple of years, teams from various professional sports leagues have hosted gay fan events, which were all wildly popular. Some teams are planning gay fan events for this year. Here’s who you need to contact to make sure you’re on the mailing list for the next gay fan event.
SOUTH FLORIDA
The Florida Panthers have hosted popular “You Can Play” LGBT fan nights in both 2013 and 2014. The regular season begins again in October and they are actively planning their LGBT fan night for this year, which will probably happen sometime this winter. For more information on how to purchase tickets for the upcoming Panthers’ “You Can Play” night, contact Rob Kristiniak by e-mailing kristiniakr@floridapanthers.com or Pamela Zager-Maya at zager-mayap@floridapanthers.com.
The Miami Marlins are looking into hosting their first-ever LGBT fan game when the next season begins in the spring of 2016. They are also considering having a series of days devoted to the LGBT community. To ask for more information and to express your support for an LGBT fan game, contact Kathleen Massolio at KMassolio@marlins.com and Boris Menier at BMenier@marlins.com.
The Miami Heat has not announced any LGBT fan nights yet, because the schedules for the upcoming season have not been released yet. To request more information on a possible LGBT fan night for next season, call Jeff Craney, vice-president of marketing, at (786) 777-1000.
The Miami Dolphins enjoyed great success last year with their first-ever LGBT fan day at Sun Life Stadium. Another LGBT fan day may be on the horizon for the Dolphins; to find out more information and to express your support for the Dolphins’ inclusion initiatives, e-mail group sales manager Goyo Perez at gperez@dolphins.com.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
The Tampa Bay Rays‘ last Pride Night, on June 12, was very popular with the local community. Another Pride Night will be planned for June 2016, hopefully in a matchup against a fellow LGBT ally team, the San Francisco Giants. To find out more information on next year’s Pride Night, please e-mail Darcy Raymond during the off-season (between October and April) at draymond@raysbaseball.com.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be hosting another LGBT fan day on Sunday, October 4 at Raymond James Stadium. An LGBT networking tailgate will begin at 10 a.m., sponsored by Barefoot Wine, and kickoff is at 1 p.m. Watch the Buccaneers take on the Carolina Panthers! A portion of your ticket proceeds go to the local LGBT charity of your choice. Please contact Allie Lewis for more information and pricing by e-mailing her at alewis@buccaneers.nfl.com.
The Orlando Magic will be bringing back their LGBT fan night to the Amway Center next season, which begins in October. Schedules have not been released yet, but once they are, there will be a better idea as to when the next fan night will be scheduled. Contact Linda Landman-Gonzalez at lgonzalez@orlandomagic.com and she will tell you all the details once they are confirmed.
Orlando City Soccer Club is having a very momentous inaugural season in Major League Soccer, and they have been selling out nearly every single home game. The season ends in late October, a couple of weeks after Orlando Pride. Ask the Group Tickets department about their next LGBT pride event (although, with so many LGBT supporters, you’ll find friends no matter which week you go!); you can e-mail them at grouptix@orlandocitysc.com.
Are you going to go to an LGBT fan day? Tweet us about it! Our Twitter handle is @HotSpotsFL and we’d love to hear from you!
