The Rays Are Winning. So Buy A Ticket, Tampa!

When even a pennant race for heretofore-hapless team can't fill seats, there's trouble

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 28, 2008 3:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in the American League, but you wouldn’t know it from the turnout at Tropicana Field, John Romano writes in the St. Petersburg Times. Even a heretofore-hapless franchise contending for the first time ever fills just a third of the seats. “It really takes the wind out of our sails,” the team’s president said.

“In recent days, the market has set a new standard for disinterest considering this is Tampa Bay's very first pennant race,” Romano writes. “If this is pennant fever, when did we get inoculated?” He concludes, “The Rays were even one of two teams in the majors to not raise ticket prices this season. So my advice: Heck, why not just hold out until they let you come for free.”

[Images (7)]

[Quotes (1)]

Tampa Bay Rays' Justin Ruggiano crashes into the wall. (AP Photo)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Andy Sonnanstine. (AP Photo)

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Troy Percival, center, is tended to by a trainer. (AP Photo)

Graphic compares the Tampa Bay Rays through the first 117 games of the past two seasons. (AP Photo)

A Tropicana Field employee retrieves a two-run home run ball from a tank containing rays. (AP Photo)

Carlos Pena, about to celebrate after another walk-off victory, has led Tampa Bay to the American League's best record ... not that you'd know it from attendance at the team's home park. (AP Photo)

Outfielder Justin Ruggiano celebrates yesterday's victory, which gave Tampa Bay the American's League's best record. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Granted, this is an old topic. It's not exactly breaking ground to say Rays fans have often led the league in apathy and were close to the top in ho-hum. - John Romano, St. Petersburg Times

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Cubs' Soto, Rays' Longoria Named Top Rookies

Both win easily, with Tampa star a unanimous choice in AL

(NEWSER) - Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto and Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria were named the rookies of the year today in the National and American leagues, respectively. Soto, 25, was voted an All-Star Game starter and finished the season with a .285 batting average, 23 home runs, and 86 RBI, the Tribune reports. He easily beat out Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto. More»

Success Drowns Out Rays' Famous Razzer

Tampa's 'happy heckler' straining to be heard during team's first World Serier

(NEWSER) - Robert Szasz is one of baseball's most well-known hecklers but his insults can now hardly be heard over the racket at Tropicana Field, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Rays fan, who found fame as "the Happy Heckler" in the days when the team had sparse attendance, is finding his jeers at opposing players drowned out by cheers and cowbells as fans throng the stadium for the World Series. More»

5 Factors to Focus On in Series

(NEWSER) - The World Series starts tomorrow night, with two teams that might not be so familiar to viewers. With that in mind, John Lowe, writing in the Detroit Free Press, has prepared a list of five players or positions that could be game changers.

Centerfielders: The Phillies' Shane Victorino and the Rays' BJ Upton have great speed on offense and defense.

Sox Fans Curse Themselves for Missing Comeback

(NEWSER) - Red Sox nation is secretly grieving. Sure, the Sox pulled off one of the most incredible comebacks ever on Thursday, but precious few were actually watching. Many among the Fenway Faithful didn’t exactly live up to their name, the Boston Globe reports. “It was 7-0,” laments one fan who left the park early. “I feel this incredible guilt, like letting an old friend down.” More»

Us Can't Wait for World Series

Fan unintentionally coins rallying cry for first Series berth since '93

(NEWSER) - When a delirious Phillies fan called in to a radio show after Philadelphia's NLCS win, he inadvertently coined the team's new rallying cry. "Boston did it. The White Sox did it. Why can't us?," he asked. While waiting to see which AL team they'll face, Phillies fans have joyously embraced the grammatically challenged slogan, Deadspin reports. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

The Rays Are Winning. So Buy A Ticket, Tampa!