I have heard time and time again this year that no one is showing up at Tampa Bay Rays home games. The fact of the mater is currently with the 29 home games that the Rays have played thus far, the Rays have attracted 509,616 people through the gates. Now, keep in mind that is including the three games the Rays played in Orlando at Champion stadium (a spring training and minor league ball park.) So with 36% of the home games played the Rays have drawn a half of million people to their home games.

   So currently the Rays are averaging 17, 572 fans per game which is a slight increase over the fan support last year of 17,148. Is this a good thing? Yes. Can we do better? Yes. If the numbers stay consistent the Rays shall attract 1,405,788 to Rays home games for the rest of 2008 season. This would be the forth best season in attendance in team history.

   What does this mean? People are coming out. Slowly, but surely the people are coming to Tropicana Field. Whether it be for a Carlos Pena figurine or to see the Commodores singing "brick house" the people are coming back.

   Once again, these numbers are slightly askew in the sense the Orlando series is factored with these numbers. Had those games been played at Tropicana Field there no true guarantee that the Rays would have attracted more fans. So, game by game, the fans are starting to find a reason to cross the bridge, go downtown, and root for the Rays. Let's keep the faith and Go Rays!

Sources: ESPN.com Boxscores, Baseball Almanac.com Attendence data.