Tampa Bay Rays Fans

[Scav]

How does a team that makes the world series and has some serious young talent to watch still draw negative people?

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Scav

How does a team that makes the world series and has some serious young talent to watch still draw negative people?

Double negative if it wasn't for all the Sox fans there...noticed that too...what gives Leo and Bigs?

[Rudeboyelvis]

Unlike Chicago, most of us have jobs

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Unlike Chicago, most of us have jobs

More day games then?

[Cannon Shell]

"Eighty five percent of the people in this country work. The other fifteen percent come here and boo my players" - Lee Elia

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Unlike Chicago, most of us have jobs

at 7pm at night, get the f out of here with that crap

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Scav

at 7pm at night, get the f out of here with that crap

Scav - The schedule I saw had it at a 4:05 start - must have been changed since the orig schedule came out - possibly the reason for the sparse crowd

pretty near sold out for the weekend

[Bigsmc]

I can't speak for everyone else, but personally, my schedule precludes me from going to most week night games.

There are several other factors/theories. I don't necessarily agree with all of them, but here goes.

1. For some reason, it has not become the "hip" thing to do in this area. The young people don't want to go to baseball games (unlike the Wrigley crowd). I don't know if any amount of marketing will change that.
2. The location of the dome. It is in the heart of St. Pete and traffic can be difficult to get in and out. (I don't buy this one at all having attended games in other cities with way worse traffic problems) It is tough to go to a game, have it drag on for four hours and then drive for an hour and a half to get home and get up for work the next day.
3. There are several other things to do in the area. We have beaches, a bazillion golf courses, college and pro football, nhl playoffs (sometimes), boating, fishing, thoroughbred horse racing. People are doing other things, moreso, they are spending their discretionary income on other things.
4. They used to blame the dome itself, but that is a piss poor excuse. I don't think anybody wants to sit out in a thunderstorm on a July night with 90 degree temps and 99% humidity. I have been to Marlins games and sat through the rain delays in the heat, it is miserable.
5. There is also the old excuse I hear throughout baseball, that the kids are still in school and it will pick up when school is out.

I think the attendance will pick up (it already is way better than last year) if the team stays competitive. If they go in the tank, they will bail like rats off a sinking ship.

Final answer to your question....no clue.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Scav

How does a team that makes the world series and has some serious young talent to watch still draw negative people?

it's florida scavs - north/central florida it's all about football

see - the bucs sell out every week and probably have done so for years, my guess is that cities like chicago and ny the kids have it woven in from birth to root for a baseball team , not so for the rays or marlins

i got to go to florida field this year for a game against hawii , place was packed full

if NW played Hawii does the place fill up to full capacity?

[Scav]

Originally Posted by gales0678

it's florida scavs - north/central florida it's all about football

see - the bucs sell out every week and probably have done so for years, my guess is that cities like chicago and ny the kids have it woven in from birth to root for a baseball team , not so for the rays or marlins

i got to go to florida field this year for a game against hawii , place was packed full

if NW played Hawii does the place fill up to full capacity?

Comparing football and baseball is like comparing my and Drugs sex life, completely opposite.

I am guessing that this is solely based on bad marketing departments and non aggressive pricing, although Bigs could tell me otherwise. People WANT to enjoy a night at the ballpark, you just have to find a way to tell them how it worth the time and money.