Tampa Bay Rays owner says current business model untenable
 

The Rangers sent the Rays home Tuesday afternoon -- not that many Tampa Bay area fans were in attendance to see it.

After selling out Game 3 to the tune of 32,828 fans, only 28,299 showed up for what turned out to be Texas' ALDS-clinching 4-3 victory.

"We replicated last year and our numbers were down," Tampa Bay owner Stuart Sternberg said. "The (television) ratings were down. The rubber has got to hit the road at some point. We're four years into winning. We're getting to the point where we don't control our own destiny. This is untenable as a model."

Tampa Bay has reached the playoffs three times in the past four years, including two AL East titles and a World Series appearance in 2008. But despite the success, declining attendance has become an ongoing trend at the domed Tropicana Field, where the Rays play their home games.

"When I came in here in '05 and '06, I saw the stars, and I was confident that we could put a winning product on the field -- and I was told by you guys and others that all we needed was a winning team," said Sternberg, who assumed principle control of the franchise in 2005. "Well, we won. We won. We won. And we won. And it didn't do it."

Last September, Rays star third baseman Evan Longoria pleaded with fans to raise attendance and support the team.

"We've been playing great baseball all year. Since I've been here in (2006), the fans have wanted a good baseball team. They've wanted to watch a contender," Longoria told reporters at the time. "And for us to play good baseball for three years now, and for us to be in a spot to clinch again and go to the playoffs, we're all confused as to why it's only 15,000 to 20,000 in the building."

Sternberg's criticism comes after the Rays reached the postseason despite an epic offseason purge that chopped the team's 2010 payroll of $71.9 million to $ 41.9 on Opening Day this season, the second-lowest in baseball.

Local civic leaders are currently exploring options for a new stadium, but the effort is in the preliminary phases.

"You can look at us and potentially Oakland as the only teams in that respect," Sternberg said, referring to the only team who drew fewer fans than Tampa this season, the Oakland A's. "And Oakland by hook and crook will have a situation clearer well before we will, and we will be the last man standing. Or in this case, lying down."

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/70...odel-untenable

How many ****ing people need to go to the games. It seems like 20,000 taking time out of their day making actual money and spending it on guys hitting a ball with a stick is alot, especially in this economy.

Oakland A's are talking about moving to San Jose and a new stadium.

Tampa Bay doesn't seem able to support a pro baseball team for whatever reason. Heck, their "home games" against the RS and Yanks are like away games. Half the stadium is rooting for the other team.

Move the team, thats the only option.

Lets see sit in a stadium for 3 hours spending who knows how much, or going to the beach for a lot cheaper.

A 2:00 game on a Tuesday afternoon in a city that's worried about attendance seems like a stupid idea.

One of the arguments ive heard is because the stadium is in St. Petersburg a retirement community and might be better served moving into Tampa. You can bet thre is a ton of Northeasterners which explains why there are so many Yankee fans.

if no one is going to show up they are better off just playing in the Bucs NFL stadium and spend their games making side bets on how many home runs balls they can hit into that stupid ****ing pirate ship

If their payroll is only $42M...they made money this year, plain and simple.

I hate this cliche...it's awful.

Royals fans deserve a passionate owner like this Stuart Stenberg guy. He's tried to win in Tampa.

Rays fans (all 3 of them) deserve an owner like David Glass. They can live in their world of apathy.

Florida shouldn't have any professional sports. They don't support them at all

This from a fan of a college team that can't sell out games? LMAO

Yep Miami doesn't sell out their games, blah blah blah...

Miami has 5 National Championships... Florida has 3.

Miami has South Beach, Gainesville has fat chicks doing the Gator Chomp with their flabby arms.

The 'Canes will always own UF... ALWAYS.

Maybe now that Urban is gone, UF will man up and schedule the 'Canes?

Lack of Institutional Control would like a word with you.