By Greg Hazley
Baseball’s Miami Marlins franchise, after suffering a dismal first season with a new name and ballpark, has cut ties with its longtime PR firm and added a new one to its team.
The team hired JeffreyGroup, Miami, to handle its PR after a 10-year run with Coral Gables-based rbb PR, a span which included a 2003 World Championship.
Marlins president David Samson said the team wants to enhance its “dialogue with the community to ensure we’re doing the best job possible.”
The team moved into the new Marlins Park in 2010 after much fanfare and a years-long and sometimes contentious push to secure public funding – $2.4B over 40 years – for the facility. It also changed its name from the Florida Marlins to more closely identify with Miami.
Despite a bolstered roster, the team sputtered in its first year with the new ballpark, finishing in last place in its division and shedding some high-profile (and high-priced) talent. The team hopes to rebuild around young talent like outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.
JeffreyGroup president Mike Valdes-Fauli called it a “tremendous honor” to represent the two-time champions. He said the firm will help the Marlins communicate with media, community leaders, partners and “most importantly, loyal fans.” |