Way to be, Rays fans

[Skerik]

Last night's crowd to watch the first place Rays: 12,428. With Kazmir on the mound, no less.

Every other game on last night's MLB schedule drew more fans, including home games in Baltimore, Florida, and Kansas City.

What a waste.

[SPTO]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

That's pretty damn sad. You can't make the excuse about the stadium when the home town team is playing so well. I sure do hope they at least have the place full if the Rays make the playoffs or it's going to be mighty embarrassing for the organization and MLB.

It seems to me the only time the Trop has decent crowds is when NY comes to town and it turns into a de facto Yankees home game.

[Blzer]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

You can't make the excuse about the stadium when the home town team is playing so well.

I disagree. After the Marlins won the 2003 World Series, they were barely drawing any more fans in the long haul.

But you're right in that it can't just be the stadium. The Braves took first place in what, thirteen, fourteen straight complete seasons? Granted, the World Series victory numbers weren't high (let alone the NLCS appearances), but especially in a year like 2003 when they had Sheffield, the Jones', Furcal, Smoltz, Maddux, Hampton, Giles, Lopez, even Franco... hell, that was a fantastic season to watch on TBS, but it wasn't so fantastic to see them getting under 30,000 fans so often.

[duke776]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

I disagree. After the Marlins won the 2003 World Series, they were barely drawing any more fans in the long haul.

But you're right in that it can't just be the stadium. The Braves took first place in what, thirteen, fourteen straight complete seasons? Granted, the World Series victory numbers weren't high (let alone the NLCS appearances), but especially in a year like 2003 when they had Sheffield, the Jones', Furcal, Smoltz, Maddux, Hampton, Giles, Lopez, even Franco... hell, that was a fantastic season to watch on TBS, but it wasn't so fantastic to see them getting under 30,000 fans so often.

I miss them being on TBS...I used to enjoy having more baseball to watch.

[thmst30]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

Move the Rays or Marlins to NC. Florida has shown it can hardly support one team, much less two of them. Both of which are having solid seasons and still no one shows up.

[dkgojackets]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

I disagree. After the Marlins won the 2003 World Series, they were barely drawing any more fans in the long haul.

After they won the world series they got rid of popular players like Derrek Lee and Ivan Rodriguez, thats a good recipe to turn away fans.

The problem with both of those teams is that the stadiums absolutely suck, and I've been to both. From what I remember both teams get solid ratings on local TV broadcasts (as least I know Florida did) so it's not like there isn't interest, just that it isn't a good experience trying to get to the parks and staying there for 3 hours.

Id love a team in Charlotte (which is the likely NC location obv) but dont see it happening.

[p_rushing]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

Problem is that most of the people living there are from somewhere else. They already have their team. Then add all the people who don't really care about baseball, they like football and spend all their money there. That doesn't leave a lot of people who would go to a game and even less who would go to more than 1 game a year.

The Braves screwed up by losing TBS. They are now going to lose fans as kids will no longer watch them growing up and their parents aren't going to take them to any games or trips to Atlanta. The attendance is going to be hurt more and if they don't win, no one will show up.

Atlanta also won't let a team go to NC or SC, that's too close and will lose more fans as those fans can still get the games on the local area FOX Sports networks.

[RAZRr1275]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

Problem is that most of the people living there are from somewhere else. They already have their team. Then add all the people who don't really care about baseball, they like football and spend all their money there. That doesn't leave a lot of people who would go to a game and even less who would go to more than 1 game a year.

The Braves screwed up by losing TBS. They are now going to lose fans as kids will no longer watch them growing up and their parents aren't going to take them to any games or trips to Atlanta. The attendance is going to be hurt more and if they don't win, no one will show up.

Atlanta also won't let a team go to NC or SC, that's too close and will lose more fans as those fans can still get the games on the local area FOX Sports networks.

I really agree with the tbs thing because I'm not a braves fan and even I watched them on tbs everytime that they played even if it was because I could root for the other team.

[Blzer]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

The problem with both of those teams is that the stadiums absolutely suck, and I've been to both. From what I remember both teams get solid ratings on local TV broadcasts (as least I know Florida did) so it's not like there isn't interest, just that it isn't a good experience trying to get to the parks and staying there for 3 hours.

Right, that was the point I was trying to make when I said I disagree, but I never explicitly said it. Honestly, I don't even know if you can call Tropicana Field a stadium. It is more like a three-ring circus.

And the Braves being on TBS really made them become my second favorite team. They were somebody I could cheer for all the time. I guess it helped that Greg Maddux has always been my favorite pitcher, but then I really started to learn and love the team. I miss watching them dearly.

It's sort of strange though how I absolutely despise the Cubs, despite the fact they're on WGN all the time.

[EWRMETS]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

Isn't St. Petersburg like 20 minutes from Tampa? When they move to Tampa in a better stadium and if they continue to win, I think their attendance will go up.

[55]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

Isn't St. Petersburg like 20 minutes from Tampa? When they move to Tampa in a better stadium and if they continue to win, I think their attendance will go up.

Yes sir.

[thmst30]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

I know a team in NC is many many years away, but I would love to have one here. Back when the Hornets left, everyone pretty much said we had two choices. Get the NBA back or make a push for an MLB team. I wanted them to go for the MLB team, but instead we got the awesome Bobcats.

[fsquid]

Re: Way to be, Rays fans

Charlotte can't support a team unless the population inside the city limits doubles. 81 games is a lot so you need a big population base near the stadium or you will get crowd like the ones referenced above.

P