Vince Naimoli

Vincent J. Naimoli (born September 16, 1937 in Paterson, New Jersey) is an American businessman, and the first owner of the Major League Baseball team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Naimoli's father was an Italian immigrant who worked for the New York City Subway system and became a self-taught stationary engineer. Naimoli attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1959 and earning a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1962. Naimoli received his Masters of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1964, and completed Harvard University Business School’s advanced management program in 1974.

Naimoli still attends Irish athletic events regularly. Naimoli has three daughters from his first marriage and one daughter from his second marriage.

Naimoli is currently a member of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Board of Trustees. On Wednesday, October 5, 2011 the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on the Metropolitan Campus of Fairliegh Dickson University was dedicated.

Naimoli negotiated a naming-rights deal with Tropicana Products for Tropicana Field, with the team paying for improvements to the stadium and other auxiliary facilities. Naimoli oversaw a design for the stadium with asymmetrical outfield dimensions and dirt base paths, and seats located close to the field of play. FieldTurf was added before the start of the 2000 season.

Naimoli was the founder and first owner of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, a name which was later shortened to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Naimoli is famous for his thrifty ways. He refused to purchase internet access and an email system for the Rays to keep costs down, as he felt email was a fad. He also made waves with his policy of enforcement of not allowing outside food against ballpark patrons erupted into an incident in which an elderly woman with diabetes was prevented from bringing food into the park to regulate her sugar levels. As a result, the woman had to sit in her tour bus for the duration of the game. Naimoil has been trying to sell his 10-acre mansion in the elite Avila community for at least three years in order to move into a smaller property.

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