rafaela amadorMajor League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays franchise, trying for years to find a new stadium site, has formed a corporate communications operation and hired Rafaela Amador as senior director.

Amador was an account director at Tampa agency Tucker/Hall and VP of PA and communications at the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.

In a statement, Rays president Matt Silverman praised Amador's knowledge of the Tampa business community and said Amador will help the team "enhance our connectivity throughout the region."

The Rays play in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg but have failed to draw large crowds despite fielding competitive teams in recent years. The team has lobbied public officials for years for stadium funding or the blessing to relocate to a more populous city in the region like Tampa. Its St. Petersburg lease runs through 2027.

Rick Vaughan is VP of communications for the Rays on the baseball side.