OT Tampa Bay Rays

[SpartyNash]

The Rays attendance versus Texas tonight was a little over 10,000. Seriously, when will this franchise pack up and ditch FLA? I'm sick of seeing such a damn good product year in year out draw 10K at most per game. Most other stadiums would be jam packed given this scenario, or at least be mostly full. I have heard every excuse in the world, from lots of traffic to poor location to poor stadium, it doesn't matter. Fans support their team if they are damn good regardless of the situation. I hope Tampa misses playoffs for this reason alone, I would hate seeing seats curtained off again during the World Series.

 

[Thumb]

The problem is the stadium location is a legit reason they lose attendance.

Imagine going to a Tigers game in Windsor, that's what it's like trying to get from Tampa to St. Pete and back.

If they played At Raymond James along with the Bucs, like the A's and Raiders do, you would probably see much higher attendance, fact is the Tropicana is a shithole, and until the Rays build a new park, in Tampa if possible, they will never draw anyone.

 

[Rebbiv]

Tropicana Field is probably the worst MLB ballpark (rivals Oakland). It is located about 30 minutes from downtown Tampa, about an hour from most metro residential areas. That is in normal driving. After a game, and because of the bottlenecks (bridges, etc), it could take double or triple the time.

The Rays lease runs until 2027. Since opening in 1998, TBR has not yet topped 2 Mil in attendance. They did top the attendance their 1st year. Their latest weekend series, vs NYY, drew 91,1709 for 3 games. It isn't the 40,000 that DET averages, but it isn't bad.

The issue is the games during the week. Hence the 10,000 last night.

Location, location, location.

Also, if the stadium sucks, that is just another reason not to go. If Tropicana was replaced at the current location with a new, modern stadium, then you might get 20,000 on a Monday. If you move Tropicana stadium from St. Petersburg to Tampa you might get 20,000. If you build a new stadium inside Tampa or outside by residential districts, you could get close to 40,000 on a Monday.

 

[tomdalton22]

look at the Indians home attendance lately.

vs balt
15k, 10k, 11.5K

vs KC
12K, 9.7K, 13K

 

[Mitchrapp]

Tampa Bay with the way they spend don't need huge attendance. I'm sure they have as many fans as anyone else just don't go to games..sad but I'm not sure I'd want to watch them playing in a Ghost town.

 

[grandy]

look at the Indians home attendance lately.

vs balt
15k, 10k, 11.5K

vs KC
12K, 9.7K, 13K

I love seeing more Tiger fans than Indian fans in Cleveland.

 

[tomdalton22]

I love seeing more Tiger fans than Indian fans in Cleveland.

I know this is a baseball thread but did you see the stands in the Cal vs OSU game Saturday night. Cal stadium was about 80% red. That is pathetic!

 

[Mitchrapp]

I remember when in the Lofton, Belle days where Indians fans outnumbered Tigers fans at Tigers Stadium ..

 

[tomdalton22]

I remember when in the Lofton, Belle days where Indians fans outnumbered Tigers fans at Tigers Stadium ..

I remember going to Indians games in Cleveland when that stadium first opened. The staduim was always packed and the flats were a fun place to go afterward.

 

[Thumb]

I remember going to Indians games in Cleveland when that stadium first opened. The staduim was always packed and the flats were a fun place to go afterward.

I went to a few back when it was still called Jacobs Field, and I remember thinking how much of an improvement it was over that pile of shit that called Municipal Stadium (mistake by the lake), and thinking I hoped the Tigers got a new stadium like it, with the retro, baseball only feel.

It was packed both times I went too.

 

[Mitchrapp]

The Indians use to have sellouts galore, when all their seats were filled with season ticket holders. The reason why the fans came to Detroit when Cleveland was in town..

Mistake by the Lake - best nickname ever. That thing was so big, 81k and empty on those bad years.

 

[SpartyNash]

Tropicana Field is probably the worst MLB ballpark (rivals Oakland). It is located about 30 minutes from downtown Tampa, about an hour from most metro residential areas. That is in normal driving. After a game, and because of the bottlenecks (bridges, etc), it could take double or triple the time.

The Rays lease runs until 2027. Since opening in 1998, TBR has not yet topped 2 Mil in attendance. They did top the attendance their 1st year. Their latest weekend series, vs NYY, drew 91,1709 for 3 games. It isn't the 40,000 that DET averages, but it isn't bad.

The issue is the games during the week. Hence the 10,000 last night.

Location, location, location.

Also, if the stadium sucks, that is just another reason not to go. If Tropicana was replaced at the current location with a new, modern stadium, then you might get 20,000 on a Monday. If you move Tropicana stadium from St. Petersburg to Tampa you might get 20,000. If you build a new stadium inside Tampa or outside by residential districts, you could get close to 40,000 on a Monday.

I've been to a game there in 2010. Yes the stadium is a total dump, yes traffic is a complete nightmare and the location of the park is awful too. But I don't believe it would make a major difference if they built a new one in downtown Tampa. Florida is just a terrible state for sports fans, they are nonexistent. Even when the Marlins were great in 97 and 03 their attendances were never good. Miami, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville all are among the fewest drawing NFL teams. The Heat have a bunch of total bandwagon fans who leave NBA Finals games early. Do the Lightning and Panthers even exist anymore? I digress.

Anyways, true fans support their teams regardless of the scenario. The Expos played in a total dump that makes the Trop look like Fenway, and they filled the place when they were good in the 80s/early 90s.

 

[SpartyNash]

And yes, it's a joke that Cleveland fans have disappeared as well, however they have at least shown in the past they can draw, didn't they have like 500 straight sellouts?

 

[spockmaster]

I think nascar and Jai alai do well in Florida. Not much else, though.

 

[Rebbiv]

I've been to a game there in 2010. Yes the stadium is a total dump, yes traffic is a complete nightmare and the location of the park is awful too. But I don't believe it would make a major difference if they built a new one in downtown Tampa. Florida is just a terrible state for sports fans, they are nonexistent. Even when the Marlins were great in 97 and 03 their attendances were never good. Miami, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville all are among the fewest drawing NFL teams. The Heat have a bunch of total bandwagon fans who leave NBA Finals games early. Do the Lightning and Panthers even exist anymore? I digress.

Anyways, true fans support their teams regardless of the scenario. The Expos played in a total dump that makes the Trop look like Fenway, and they filled the place when they were good in the 80s/early 90s.

How does one become a true fan?

As a general rule, being a city sports fan (Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons, Lions) is a generational thing. I grew up with a Grandpa and Dad that were huge Detroit sports fans, especially the Tigers and this carried on to by brother and I.

If I grew up in Florida, in my day, the nearest teams to cheer for would have been Atlanta Braves in baseball. Only Miama Doplhins come to mind in another sport other than baseball. The Dolphins and Bucs were the only 2 Florida teams in existence when my two sons were born. I may not even been a baseball fan had I grown up in Florida.

MLB
TBR = 1998
MIA = 1993

NHL
FLA = 1993
TBL = 1992

NBA
ORL = 1989
MIA = 1988

NFL
JAC = 1995
TBB = 1976
MIA = 1966

And FYI, Montreal Olympic Stadium first opened for the Olympics in 1976. It was less than 10 years old when they were getting 2 Mil fans. This issue, as was with most new parks back then, it wasn't designed as a baseball only stadium. From 1979-1993 (15 years), MON only had 3 losing seasons, and 2 of them they won 78 games (78-83 both times).