Rays fans aren't showing up

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The lack of buzz over the Rays in Tampa is deafening. Maybe it's a sign of the poor economy, but as of last week the Rays were 26th in the majors in attendance, and they averaged just over 15,000 per game for the Angels series. Rays president Matt Silverman declined comment when we tried to contact him on the subject, but earlier in the week, he seemed upset. "To me, it's about how disheartening it is for everybody in the organization - the players, coaches, and front office - to not see the excitement funnel its way into Tropicana Field," Silverman said. "The TV ratings are high, and that's a great sign, but it hasn't translated to the number of people at Tropicana Field. It really takes the wind out of our sails."

Boston Globe

Rocco Baldelli, AP Rocco Baldelli, AP
August 31, 2008  07:43 AM ET

I heard there was near 30,000 in attendance for last nights game

August 31, 2008  07:57 AM ET

Granted, the team had been run horribly for so many years and maybe that turned off a lot of fans.....but this is the most exciting team in baseball now and people should be showing up every night.

Both Florida teams should move but where the heck could they go? Jersey could support another team but the Mets, Yankees, and Sillies would all fight it..

August 31, 2008  08:40 AM ET

I've never been there but I've heard Tropicana Field is not a very nice park to see a game.

August 31, 2008  08:58 AM ET

so play off tickets should be easy to come by no?

August 31, 2008  09:06 AM ET

Tampa has never been much of a sports town much less Florida in general. Too much sun I guess. It's ashame though.

August 31, 2008  09:09 AM ET

Both Florida teams should move but where the heck could they go? Jersey could support another team but the Mets, Yankees, and Sillies would all fight it..
baseballpurist | 08/31/08, 07:57 AM

Jersey has always just jumped on the team doing best so I doubt the teams here would care.

August 31, 2008  09:20 AM ET

one of them could move to oklahoma , to compliment the new NBA team , and hell why not an Alaskian baseball team

August 31, 2008  12:03 PM ET

I've been to Tampa Bay once and I hated the place. Why? All I saw where rude obnoxious New York/New Jersey people with Yankees hats.

August 31, 2008  02:30 PM ET

Move the team if Tampa won't support it. We could probably support a third team in Texas in San Antonio.

August 31, 2008  02:56 PM ET

Why the MLB put two teams in Florida blows my mind. You have so many teams for spring training there and most of those fans have there allegiances to those teams. Also a majority of the population is 50+ and who wants to go sit in a ballpark when you can sit at home in air conditioning. They need to eliminate one team at least or combine the two florida teams. I don't think either one of them is doing that great in attendance.

August 31, 2008  03:05 PM ET

lets see over 30,000 last night and 35,000 today you know most of have to work during the week and phillydave the bucs have been sold out season tics for many yrs with a long wait line.

August 31, 2008  03:36 PM ET

Ticket and gas prices are so high, and Florida has plenty of Minor League teams to watch. Why not pay $10 at ticket to a MiLB game, and just watch the Rays at home? MiLB attendence has been on the rise the last few seasons.

September 1, 2008  10:28 AM ET

There are no Rays fans. The retirees come out a couple of times a year to see the club from wherever they retired when they're in town. They need a gimmick; maybe have the ticket of Grandpa & Miss Mooseburger campaign before the game.

September 1, 2008  11:03 AM ET

Time to move them to somewhere that would appreciate them.

September 1, 2008  12:43 PM ET

If they can't draw this year with the kind of season they're having, in a nothing-else-to-do town like St.Pete, I'd say it's time to start considering a move.

September 1, 2008  07:14 PM ET

I have been to the stadium and it is really not a nice place to watch a game, compared to other small market teams like the Pirates (beautiful park) and Nationals. Definitely a move is in order, how can you go wrong with a new park in Florida..? (where I just moved from btw)

September 2, 2008  02:50 PM ET

Do you think maybe its because no one wants to sit INSIDE in FLORIDA in the SUMMER TIME??????????????????? what idiot ok'd an indoor stadium?

 
September 3, 2008  04:09 AM ET

The location is horrible. Very bad neighborhood, You have to drive across Tampa to get to the bridges to get to Saint Petersburg. Game at 7? What happens in every city from 5 to 630 or so every week day? Hello rush hour! The majority of fans live across the bay in Tampa. Saint Petersburg is either old folks, or blighted inner city whose residents can't afford the games. Brilliant idea to put the team there. Build a park in Tampa and attendance doubles.

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