2020 Tampa Bay Rays! (buying, arena, refunds)

[NYmikef]

Originally Posted by MortonR

No, they need to be smarter to draw a crowd. They're not currently viable as a franchise and probably never will be. Tampa is a lousy market for MLB as is any major city in Florida.

Why?

No fan base.

Think about it. The majority of the populace is from outside the area, and when they come here, they've already got a "home team" if there was an MLB franchise where they came from - look at the turnout the Yankees get here as an example. Look at a Bucs game when someone like Green Bay plays.

....

RM

This argument doesn't seem to hold for hockey.

[NYmikef]

Originally Posted by Bumby88

There's only one reason the business isn't viable in Tampa Bay, and it has nothing to do with the owners or how the team is run. The problem is residents of Tampa not attending games. Any rebuttal against that is just an excuse. The tickets are cheap, the parking is plentiful, and most years there is a winning product on the field. The gorgeous drive from Tampa to St Pete is well within the average commute that every MLB fan must "endure" to see their favorite team.

The Trop is not a dump, it's the Webster's Dictionary definition of an OASIS on a hot summer day. I saw a Rays game in Baltimore last year in 97 degree heat with no clouds. Easily the most miserable day of my adult life. Simply put, I will never attend another outdoor summertime 1-4pm game again. At the Trop, we even get to enjoy games during a thunderstorm.

When the stadium is full, the Rays absolutely dominate their opponents. During postseason games the Trop is among the loudest stadiums in the league. It's such a shame that with the owners/front office accomplishing the unthinkable by keeping up with NY/BOS, the "fans" can't do their part and watch.

If you want the team to stay in Florida past 2027, buy a ticket to a game this year. Don't wait for the postseason or for Saturday games against the Yankees. Go to a Tuesday game against Toronto or a Wednesday game against Baltimore. Their fans show up to see the Rays with higher ticket prices, worse weather, more expensive parking, and losing records. If attendance grows a little for each of the next 4 or 5 years, then maybe an investment in a Florida stadium will be made. Otherwise, Tampa residents will get the amount of MLB teams they deserve.

Absolutely agree. One thing I found strange about the Tampa Bay area is the reluctance of the people to drive across a bridge, I know people who live in Tampa that wouldn't think of visiting a gulf beach without reserving a hotel room.


On Long Island I have a multi-hour drive to Yankee Stadium to very very expensive parking with very expensive tickets to see an MLB game. Tampa folks doesn't know how good they have it.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by NYmikef

This argument doesn't seem to hold for hockey.

Agreed. I can't explain the difference, other than hockey fans are more dedicated to the sport? That or maybe that it takes a lot fewer fans to fill an arena? More people like the game because it's faster and far more dynamic than baseball?

I agree there's disparity between the two, but I think that probably comes down to baseball being less popular in general and some of the points I made previously.

RM

[Winterbeard]

Originally Posted by MortonR

Agreed. I can't explain the difference, other than hockey fans are more dedicated to the sport? That or maybe that it takes a lot fewer fans to fill an arena? More people like the game because it's faster and far more dynamic than baseball?

I agree there's disparity between the two, but I think that probably comes down to baseball being less popular in general and some of the points I made previously.

RM

Yes, it's just a better sport, especially for people, like me, who come from countries where soccer is the predominant sport, it has constant energy. Though I quite like baseball, I imagine for some it's a struggle to get into.

[mrviking]

NHL like the NFL have hard salary caps. That makes each team equal to have a chance every year to make it to the big game. I personally will not waste my sports dollars on a league that stacks the deck against my team. Go Bolts!

[Florida Catholic Guy]

I’m a die hard Patriots fan but when I came to Tampa last year I signed up to be a Crewe member for the Bucs. I have had season tickets for the Patriots back in 2004 during one of their Super Bowl years. I was absolutely shocked at how great the Bucs organization treats season ticket holders. I was given a tour of their training facility and got to have lunch in the team cafeteria. I got to see the players practice for a few minutes. I have a contact person I can e-mail or call if I have any questions and they even called me quite often just to check how I like the games. You also get chances to get upgrades to the club seats during the games.

To top it off, on the last game of the season, they had a hard time locating my upgrade ticket I had bought for the club area so the guy at customer service said, “Today you are going to sit on the 50 yard line.” It was still the club section but it was right on the 50! With the Patriots, all you got was a ticket to the game and you had to pay $50+ for parking. At least the Bucs have an option to pay for parking with your season passes. Oh...and the Bucs cost a lot less than the Patriots did! They might not have as many SB wins as the Pats, but the Bucs have a great atmosphere and put a good product on the field.

[NYmikef]

Originally Posted by Florida Catholic Guy

I’m a die hard Patriots fan but when I came to Tampa last year I signed up to be a Crewe member for the Bucs. I have had season tickets for the Patriots back in 2004 during one of their Super Bowl years. I was absolutely shocked at how great the Bucs organization treats season ticket holders. I was given a tour of their training facility and got to have lunch in the team cafeteria. I got to see the players practice for a few minutes. I have a contact person I can e-mail or call if I have any questions and they even called me quite often just to check how I like the games. You also get chances to get upgrades to the club seats during the games.

To top it off, on the last game of the season, they had a hard time locating my upgrade ticket I had bought for the club area so the guy at customer service said, “Today you are going to sit on the 50 yard line.” It was still the club section but it was right on the 50! With the Patriots, all you got was a ticket to the game and you had to pay $50+ for parking. At least the Bucs have an option to pay for parking with your season passes. Oh...and the Bucs cost a lot less than the Patriots did! They might not have as many SB wins as the Pats, but the Bucs have a great atmosphere and put a good product on the field.

Coming from New York I find a lot of things, not just sports related are more friendly in the Tampa Bay area.


I find a lot of people in Tampa Bay don't realize how good it is here.



BTW hate the Pats - LOL.

[Florida Catholic Guy]

Originally Posted by NYmikef

Coming from New York I find a lot of things, not just sports related are more friendly in the Tampa Bay area.


I find a lot of people in Tampa Bay don't realize how good it is here.



BTW hate the Pats - LOL.

I agree about things being friendly...the person above being the exception LOL! And I hate the Jets and Giants too LOL! I don’t mind the only real NY team...the Buffalo Bills. LOL!

[Bumby88]

Originally Posted by mrviking

NHL like the NFL have hard salary caps. That makes each team equal to have a chance every year to make it to the big game. I personally will not waste my sports dollars on a league that stacks the deck against my team. Go Bolts!

Even when your team defies those odds, beats the stacked deck, and makes it to the post-season?

[mrviking]

Originally Posted by Bumby88

Even when your team defies those odds, beats the stacked deck, and makes it to the post-season?

Ya that would be amazing to witness but the odds are better to spend those sports dollars on the lottery then small market baseball. That's like working at a company where all the good promotions go to the chosen ones that are connected to the powers that be. No matter how hard you work the odds are always stacked against you. If I was a rabid baseball fan, I would follow one of the big clubs. Someone has to follow the small markets and buy the popcorn, so god bless you.