NYT -- For Youthful Rays, Changes in Stands and in Standings

by webdoyenne on May 13, 2008 4:16 PM EDT

From today's New York Times ...interesting read:

The Rays had baseball’s lowest attendance in 2005 and the second lowest in each of the past two seasons, ahead of only Florida. For the second consecutive year, the Rays have played a series at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando. Even then, they played to less-than-capacity crowds of 8,269 to 9,540 against Toronto from April 22-24.

The reasons for the Rays’ attendance woes are many. The club has never won more than 70 games, finishing last in the A.L. East every season but 2004, when it was fourth. Vince Naimoli, the franchise’s previous managing general partner, took a heavy-handed approach to running the franchise, alienating fans and local civic and business leaders.

Also, the Rays play in a domed stadium built in the late 1980s to attract a major league team. It seemed antiquated when the Rays played their first game in 1998, before another generation of new ballparks opened. And though the Tampa market has supported spring training for decades, it has one of the lower per capita incomes and corporate sponsor bases of any market in the game.

Under Stuart Sternberg, who became principal owner of the Rays after the 2005 season, the Rays have become more fan friendly, sprucing up Tropicana Field and offering free parking during the first two seasons of his tenure. The Rays hope to rally support for a new waterfront ballpark to be built in time for the 2012 season on the site of Al Lang Field, the longtime spring training site just a few miles from their current home.

On Monday, Tampa Bay attracted a mix of Yankees and Rays fans. Typical were Brian Fink, 32, and Emi Young, 24, who attended together, each wearing clothing of the opposing team. Young, who had a Yankees jersey and cap, has seen virtually every Yankees game here since 1998, but no others.

“It doesn’t seem as tilted in favor of the Yankees as it used to be,” said Fink, a Rays fan and radio producer in Tampa. “But given how they’ve been playing, you’d think there would be more people out here.”

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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I too am disappointed in the attendance figures from this past weekend

We are fielding a good ballclub now and were playing one of the American League’s top teams in the Angels last weekend. There are no more excuses for bad attendance now that we’re six games over .500, and last weekend was pathetic, other than the bobblehead giveaway night.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on May 13, 2008 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

Agree

even last night was not good….It annoys me.

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on May 13, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Emi Young can go to hell...

you live in Tampa asshole, time to support your local team.

by davidsmarch on May 13, 2008 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

I found that part hilarious

What’s next, a local paper chronicling a Yankee fan’s flag being burned?

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 13, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

The excuses may no longer hold water, but attendance just doesn’t change overnight, particularly after only the first 38 games of the season.. no matter how good a team is doing.

The White Sox finished 7th in the AL in attendance the year they won the World Series, an improvement of one spot from the previous year… and most of the difference probably did not occur until late in the season during the stretch run. It wasn’t until the following year did their attendance jump all the way to 3rd in the AL, which is not unusual.

Detroit went from 10th to 5th in their World Series year to 3rd the following year. I doubt the attendance was markedly different after 21 home games in 2006.

And these are teams with long-standing tradition and significantly larger fanbases/markets.

I hope we don’t have to go through this after every home game while the team is winning. I’ve said all I’m going to say about attendance. I’m just going to enjoy the competitive performances and worry about the on-field issues from here on out.

Longlorious.

by RATW on May 13, 2008 5:12 PM EDT reply actions