Steve DeLay has spent more than 25 years in the sports business working at all levels including the NBA, NHL, MLB and MiLB.

He is the co-author, with Jon Spoelstra of “The Ultimate Toolkit to Sell the Last Seat in the House”, a comprehensive ticket sales strategy, tactics and training system for teams, schools and special events and “The Ultimate Toolkit – Sponsorships”, a complete sponsorship sales strategy and training system.

DeLay is also the owner of the Macon Bacon, another Coastal Plain League team which played its inaugural season in 2018.  The Bacon are consistently one of the top summer collegiate baseball teams in attendance.

DeLay also was part owner of the wildly successful Savannah Bananas – in the same league – and developed the strategy to help propel the Bananas to No. 2 in the country in attendance and record-setting sponsorships.

DeLay's background is in enhancing revenue streams with a focus on ticket and sponsorship sales. He has consulted with NBA and NHL teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers and Columbus Blue Jackets, Major League Baseball teams, college athletic departments, conferences, bowl games and various other properties.

He spent 12 years with Mandalay Baseball Properties as Chief Marketing Officer primarily overseeing ticket sales and sponsorship sales for all seven of Mandalay’s teams. DeLay was also Mandalay’s primary point person for startups and turnarounds, overseeing the turnaround of the Las Vegas 51s, Staten Island Yankees, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and the startup of the Winston-Salem Dash and BB&T Ballpark. He was Mandalay’s primary point person on all naming rights deals and national sponsorship opportunities.

DeLay also oversaw Mandalay Sports Consulting, a division of Mandalay set up to assist teams, colleges and other sports entities with revenue production including sponsorship sales strategy, naming rights, ticket sales strategy and training, suite sales strategy and training, game entertainment and facility management.

Brandon Raphael is a member of the ownership team with the Florence Flamingos. He joined managing partner Steve DeLay in the controlling rights purchase of the team in October 2020. Raphael also is the team president of another Coastal Plain League team, the Macon Bacon.

Raphael is in his third season as president of the Macon Bacon. He is entering his 21st year in the sports and entertainment industry.

In 2020, Brandon led the efforts for the Bacon to play during the COVID-19 pandemic in front of fans – one of only approximately 15 teams in the entire country to do so. The 2020 campaign also brought Macon its first championship baseball team since the 1962 Macon Peaches, as the Bacon captured the Southern Southern Ball Series. In 2019, the Bacon posted the team's best record in franchise history, advanced to the Championship Series and raised more than $50,000 for local organizations. Brandon was rewarded for his efforts and named the 2019 Coastal Plain League Executive of the Year.

Before the Bacon, he has more than 18 years of experience in various roles in sports including the Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development and Ticket Sales at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Brandon previously worked with the Bacon's owner, DeLay, at the Frisco RoughRiders and the Las Vegas 51s. Overall, Raphael has made stops in Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer and collegiate athletics.

He is from St. Louis and attended Maryville University where he also played baseball.

Raphael has two children: Caden and Brooklyn.

Mitchell joins our organization having been around Minor League Baseball for 8 seasons.

Mitchell worked two seasons with Lynchburg Hillcats.

He then moved on to the Hickory Crawdads as a Group Sales Executive for one year.

Next Mitchell worked for the Staten Island Yankees for two seasons as the Manager of Group Ticket Sales.

Finally his last stop was for two seasons with the Carolina Mudcats as the Director of Tickets & Business Development.

Mitchell graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management.

Phone - 843-413-2833

Email - [email protected]

Alex is super excited to be back in Florence as an official Flamingos employee!

She has both broadcast and communication experience, and was the In-Game Host and Marketing intern last summer with the Flamingos.

Alex recently graduated with a Sports Media and Political Science degree from Oklahoma State University.

Tyler joins the Flock as the Director of Stadium Operations, Food and Beverage, & Merchandise.

He brings experience as he was the Food and Beverage Intern for the Flamingos last season.

Tyler graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Sports Management in 2022.

The Flamingos are very excited to have Tyler as our Director of Stadium Operations, Food and Beverage, and Merchandise.

Email - [email protected]

AJ is joining the Flamingos as Manager of Premium Seating.

He recently completed an internship with ISBI 360 where he was a Ticket Sales Representative. 

Alston obtained his Bachelor of Science in Sports Entertainment & Event Management from Johnson & Wales University where he graduated with honors.

Email - [email protected]

Matt is joining the Flamingos as the Director of Ticket Operations and Inside Sales.

He previously worked for the Baltimore Ravens as a Training Camp Marketing Intern in 2019 and 2021.

Matt graduated from Ohio University with a major in Communication and minors in both Marketing and Sports Administration.

The Flamingos are very excited to have Matt Downing as our Director of Ticket Operations and Inside sales.

Email - [email protected]

Austin comes with 4 years of experience in Minor League Baseball.

He started off as a Marketing Intern with the Florence Y'alls/ Freedom for two years and moved to the Marketing Manager position for one year.

In 2022 Austin was the Marketing Assistant for the York Revolution.

Austin received his Bachelors degree in Sports Management from the University of Cincinnati.

Email: [email protected]