Is "driving across the bridge on a week night" a good excuse?

[thethinktank]

Originally Posted by chi_tino

We're mostly a region of whiners.

I'm impressed by your ability to succinctly define your own contributions here on City Data.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by gumbyfly

Look at the Bucs...
Their stadium is right outside of downtown Tampa; and they still can't sell out a game.

The issue isn't a bridge, or that people are transplants from out of state. The issue is that Tampa continually puts a low-budget, no-name team on the field that struggles to barely make the playoffs every couple of years. Of course, the Bucs charge an arm and a leg to sit in the blazing hot sun to watch them lose (and who wants to watch the Lions, Panthers, and Jags every year anyway?).

Good thing Tampa has a decent hockey team!

Bucs Monday Night game is sold out. And they sold out for ten consecutive years until the housing crisis and recession. It didn't help that our team transitioned to a new coaching staff and new players when all of that happened. There also was the deal w/ seat deposits that is a whole different story involving the fan's displeasure w/ the Buc owners.

The transplant issue is very big for all our sports, and something most other teams (except Miami, Arizona, San Diego, maybe SF) don't really have to deal with. People in Buffalo, Green Bay all grow up and live Bills/Packers football for their entire lives and it becomes part of their lives. Here in Tampa, with the transplants, people moving here don't know much about the team and don't care to adopt their new city's team (unless they get on the bandwagon during Superbowl years).

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

I think, people don't like St. Petersburg.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by BucFan

The area is filled w/ transplants from all over the United States who don't want to support their new home team (you call this apathy). The commute time (the bridge) is probably the least likely reason why people don't go the game. The biggest reason is the economy.

They wouldn't even have a team here or any interest if it wasn't for the transplants who come out and support the NY Yankees or the Red Sox.

There is also resentment that they want the taxpayers to build a new stadium. It isn't needed and certainly not an outdoor stadium which would be miserable during baseball season.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

They wouldn't even have a team here or any interest if it wasn't for the transplants who come out and support the NY Yankees or the Red Sox.

That would be fine & dandy if the NYY and Bosox played every series against the Rays, but they don't. Those fans do attend the games in droves (about 5-10k), but they don't necessarily attend other games.

And that's a problem in this area.

[BucFan]

Attending a Tampa Bay Bucs game live not worth the effort, expense - St. Petersburg Times

Good article about attending professional athletic events - I kind of agree w/ his assessment. And if Sternberg continues to threaten to "vaporize" the team, I'm tempted never to go to the Trop again and watch all the games from my livingroom.