Other Sports Tampa Bay Rays owner says current business model untenable - Page 2

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

blaise · 10-05-2011, 11:20 AM

Yeah, get your asses out here and pay $9 for a beer and $15 for parking and pay the salaries of guys making $20 million a year you ****ing cheapskates.

blaise · 10-05-2011, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsfan88

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?

I don't think many people think Miami owns UF these days. The glory days are gone.

**HemiEd** · 10-05-2011, 11:22 AM

I wonder what percentage of the Florida population is retired? It seems like when I visit, a large percentage are very old and drive Caddy sedans.

blaise · 10-05-2011, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

I wonder what percentage of the Florida population is retired? It seems like when I visit, a large percentage are very old and drive Caddy sedans.

That and the people that look like carnys.

**DaKCMan AP** · 10-05-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsfan88

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?

Your program hasn't been relevant in nearly a decade.

Gainesville has fat chicks?

UF is consistently rated top-10 in attractiveness of girls on campus. Miami is full of old retirees with wheelchairs and walkers.

Sure, South Beach is in Miami. Unfortunately with your dubious ass that has nothing to do with the University of Miami. Coral Gables is not South Beach.

An overall series record of Florida (26) and Miami (28) hardly amounts to "owning" especially when the average score is Florida (17.5) and Miami (15.6).

But keep pounding your inflated chest, moron.

Steron · 10-05-2011, 11:36 AM

We'd love them in Virginia but the Nats and the O's would have nothing of it. It will never happen sadly.

lcarus · 10-05-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

Yeah, get your asses out here and pay $9 for a beer and $15 for parking and pay the salaries of guys making $20 million a year you ****ing cheapskates.

For a game that's boring because pitchers take 9 minutes between each pitch.

blaise · 10-05-2011, 11:36 AM

I think the best bowl Miami's been to since joining the ACC is the Outback Bowl or something.

whoman69 · 10-05-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

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.

You're talking that for a playoff game when the stands should be filled. If they're getting such poor attendance for a playoff game, what are they doing regular season. Taken out to a whole season 20k/game would be 1.62 million. This market didn't support the team when they were losing and now they still don't when they're winning. Sounds to me like they just won't support the team. The Marlins had similar problems. They're getting a new stadium and its probably a waste. Its a lousy stadium in Tampa too.

FringeNC · 10-05-2011, 01:16 PM

When I was in Tampa airport this summer, I saw more Red Sox caps than Rays caps, in fact, almost 2-1, and the Red Sox were not in town. Terrible fans.

**DaKCMan AP** · 10-05-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoman69

You're talking that for a playoff game when the stands should be filled. If they're getting such poor attendance for a playoff game, what are they doing regular season. Taken out to a whole season 20k/game would be 1.62 million. This market didn't support the team when they were losing and now they still don't when they're winning. Sounds to me like they just won't support the team. The Marlins had similar problems. They're getting a new stadium and its probably a waste. Its a lousy stadium in Tampa too.

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.

**DaKCMan AP** · 10-05-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

When I was in Tampa airport this summer, I saw more Red Sox caps than Rays caps, in fact, almost 2-1, and the Red Sox were not in town. Terrible fans.

How does that equal terrible fans? A large percentage of the population in the Tampa Bay area is not from here. Are they supposed to just switch allegiance? You live in North Carolina. Did you switch to a Panthers fan or are you still a Chiefs fan?

Plus you were in an airport. Many of those people probably don't live in Tampa. JFC.

Deberg_1990 · 10-05-2011, 01:23 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.

My guess is A 2PM Tuesday game at the K would be a struggle to draw a crowd as well.....but maybe not, people are starving for playoff baseball in KC.

DJJasonp · 10-05-2011, 01:36 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.

And you can blame MLB for this.....making sure the yankees games are in prime time.

I remember a few years back when the Padres were in the playoffs.....every damn game was a day game (which meant 2 road day-games in east-coast time zone.......which meant 90% of San Diego did not get to watch those game as it was around 10am PT). Then, to make matters worse, the third game (home game for SD) was a day game as well.

As is everything in life, it all comes down to money. The MLB is going to schedule their best bets for viewers in prime time. Texas and Tampa do not qualify (and that's a whole other story as to why they dont......no salary cap, etc.).

ANother poster hit on it....and I think for the next year or so you can apply it towards many different excuses.....it's the economy.

Even across the NFL (and even cities with winning teams) - you're seeing plenty of empty seats.

People (non-corporate luxury box seats people) just plain cant afford/justify the expense.

Throw in the hassles of crime/fighting.....and how much more affordable "man caves" are - people are just staying home. Cant really blame 'em.

Demonpenz · 10-05-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoman69

You're talking that for a playoff game when the stands should be filled. If they're getting such poor attendance for a playoff game, what are they doing regular season. Taken out to a whole season 20k/game would be 1.62 million. This market didn't support the team when they were losing and now they still don't when they're winning. Sounds to me like they just won't support the team. The Marlins had similar problems. They're getting a new stadium and its probably a waste. Its a lousy stadium in Tampa too.

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.

10-05-2011, 09:41 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $294454	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: 68,452

10-05-2011, 11:20 AM	#16
blaise In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $9989900	Yeah, get your asses out here and pay $9 for a beer and $15 for parking and pay the salaries of guys making $20 million a year you ****ing cheapskates.
Posts: 22,189

10-05-2011, 11:22 AM	#18
HemiEd Supporter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ozarks Casino cash: $-319436	I wonder what percentage of the Florida population is retired? It seems like when I visit, a large percentage are very old and drive Caddy sedans.
Posts: 34,815

10-05-2011, 11:36 AM	#21
Steron Texting Ms. Dobbs Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Virginia Casino cash: $9408246	We'd love them in Virginia but the Nats and the O's would have nothing of it. It will never happen sadly.
Posts: 1,675

10-05-2011, 11:36 AM	#23
blaise In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $9989900	I think the best bowl Miami's been to since joining the ACC is the Outback Bowl or something.
Posts: 22,189

10-05-2011, 01:16 PM	#25
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $-1623986	When I was in Tampa airport this summer, I saw more Red Sox caps than Rays caps, in fact, almost 2-1, and the Red Sox were not in town. Terrible fans.
Posts: 10,234