Other Sports Tampa Bay Rays owner says current business model untenable - Page 3

Deberg_1990 · 10-05-2011, 09:41 AM

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

Rooster · 10-05-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

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

That was my first thought too. People have to work.

chiefzilla1501 · 10-05-2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Game 1 which was @ 5pm was sold out. Game 2 was at 2pm on a Tuesday. People have to work. It was less than a 14% decrease in attendance from Game 1 to Game 2.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
Their team is second to last in attendance. This isn't just about the playoffs.

That's embarrassing. I agree with the owner. I hate an owner who consistently builds a loser than complains about attendance. But in this case, **** them. You think Cleveland wouldn't kill to have an owner with this kind of a success record? That depressed economy would be killing attendance numbers with a team as talented as the Rays.

whoman69 · 10-05-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

have you watched baseball? It kinda sucks these days. They need either a time limit or something like a shot clock. Baseball players and owners should be sucking off any fans that come to the game.

You didn't see any of those games on the last day of the season if you say that. There is a clock for pitchers to throw a pitch and batters are not supposed to step out of the box without a time out. In most instances umpires are not enforcing it.

blaise · 10-05-2011, 03:20 PM

Guess what? Nobody says sports franchise owners have a right to profit every year. If he doesn't like it, sell.

whoman69 · 10-05-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
Their team is second to last in attendance. This isn't just about the playoffs.

That's embarrassing. I agree with the owner. I hate an owner who consistently builds a loser than complains about attendance. But in this case, **** them. You think Cleveland wouldn't kill to have an owner with this kind of a success record? That depressed economy would be killing attendance numbers with a team as talented as the Rays.

Exactly, this is not about one game in the playoff. The fact they couldn't sell out a playoff game is a sign. Cardinals had a 4 pm game and had 46914. I believe that is more than capacity for Busch Stadium.

**DaKCMan AP** · 10-05-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
Their team is second to last in attendance. This isn't just about the playoffs.

That's embarrassing. I agree with the owner. I hate an owner who consistently builds a loser than complains about attendance. But in this case, **** them. You think Cleveland wouldn't kill to have an owner with this kind of a success record? That depressed economy would be killing attendance numbers with a team as talented as the Rays.

No one moves to Cleveland. Everyone in Cleveland is from Ohio. People move to Tampa Bay and bring their previous fan alliances with them.

Demonpenz · 10-05-2011, 03:53 PM

Cleveland leads the nation in drifters

Al Bundy · 10-05-2011, 03:56 PM

The stadium is in a bad location, should be on Dale Mabry right across from Ray Jay. That being said the Tampa area fan base is not good, plain and simple. They won't even go to Bucs games. I am from there and have nothing good to say about them.

Bump · 10-05-2011, 04:00 PM

too many games in a season, until the end when the playoff races heat up, the players don't even care if they win or lose and want to sit out every 4 games.

I still think baseball NEEDS steroids, it would level the playing field, it would be way more exciting and people would go to more games. The only entertaining season in history was that year with Bonds, Sosa and McGuire tearing shit up. Baseball is a strike away from becoming soccer, unwatchable.

Deberg_1990 · 10-05-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UCF Knight

The stadium is in a bad location, should be on Dale Mabry right across from Ray Jay. That being said the Tampa area fan base is not good, plain and simple. They won't even go to Bucs games. I am from there and have nothing good to say about them.

Why do you think the fanbase is not very supportive?

Rams Fan · 10-05-2011, 04:06 PM

The Bucs can't even sell out their games with a decent product on the field in a nice stadium.

Al Bundy · 10-05-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Why do you think the fanbase is not very supportive?

Baseball? I have no idea, I left Tampa the year before the Devil Rays came into existence. Football, varying reasons, bad economy (it is REALLY rough on the gulf side especially), massive ticket price increase a couple of years ago along with PSL's (and the Glazers suing people who couldn't afford to pay the rest of the PSL agreements because of lost jobs). I also believe the local media has something to do with it AND there is the race factor as well. Young black head coach. young black QB and no really "great white hope" there. Some morons still say they would trade Freeman for Tebow. I honestly don't get it, some are just plain ****wads.

**HemiEd** · 10-05-2011, 04:09 PM

Two of the bottom three teams in attendance are from Florida, the other is Oakland.

I would venture there are several things working against them. Age demographic, and a lot of competition for the $$ to spend attending a sporting event. There are LOT of things to do in Florida, year around.

If I am a retired 75 year old Dr. from Brooklyn NY, do I want to go fight the crowds at a baseball stadium for a team I don't care about unless they are playing the Yankees? Or do I stay home, watch the Yankees on the tube and let Martha massage my feet?

GordonGekko · 10-05-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

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

The Jacksonville Jaguars ask that you reconsider!...

..wait

O.city · 10-05-2011, 05:36 PM

Well I guess if Longoria wants to leave Tampa, I would gladly take him in Stl.

10-05-2011, 09:41 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $284454	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
Posts: 68,464

10-05-2011, 03:20 PM	#34
blaise In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $9989900	Guess what? Nobody says sports franchise owners have a right to profit every year. If he doesn't like it, sell.
Posts: 22,189

10-05-2011, 03:53 PM	#37
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $-243864	Cleveland leads the nation in drifters __________________
Posts: 54,945

10-05-2011, 03:56 PM	#38
Al Bundy Damnit Peg Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $3521831	The stadium is in a bad location, should be on Dale Mabry right across from Ray Jay. That being said the Tampa area fan base is not good, plain and simple. They won't even go to Bucs games. I am from there and have nothing good to say about them.
Posts: 23,616

10-05-2011, 04:00 PM	#39
Bump YOU take YOUR seat Join Date: Nov 2007 Casino cash: $-1484895	too many games in a season, until the end when the playoff races heat up, the players don't even care if they win or lose and want to sit out every 4 games. I still think baseball NEEDS steroids, it would level the playing field, it would be way more exciting and people would go to more games. The only entertaining season in history was that year with Bonds, Sosa and McGuire tearing shit up. Baseball is a strike away from becoming soccer, unwatchable.
Posts: 38,106

10-05-2011, 04:06 PM	#41
Rams Fan Greatest QB Duo of 2015 Join Date: Mar 2010 Casino cash: $1051023	The Bucs can't even sell out their games with a decent product on the field in a nice stadium.
Posts: 17,508

10-05-2011, 04:09 PM	#43
HemiEd Supporter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ozarks Casino cash: $-329436	Two of the bottom three teams in attendance are from Florida, the other is Oakland. I would venture there are several things working against them. Age demographic, and a lot of competition for the $$ to spend attending a sporting event. There are LOT of things to do in Florida, year around. If I am a retired 75 year old Dr. from Brooklyn NY, do I want to go fight the crowds at a baseball stadium for a team I don't care about unless they are playing the Yankees? Or do I stay home, watch the Yankees on the tube and let Martha massage my feet?
Posts: 34,815

10-05-2011, 05:36 PM	#45
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $-565936	Well I guess if Longoria wants to leave Tampa, I would gladly take him in Stl.
Posts: 84,162