****OFFICIAL TAMPA BAY RAYS THREAD 2008****

[Pacemaker]

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles

Originally posted by: DomS
I love how all you tampa bay ray's fans are scrambling to get your longoria jerseys now. Way to fill up the seats. I can't wait for the first 4 game losing streak next year so I can see the stadium back at 9% capacity.

So good! So good! So good!

As someone who used to live in Tampa I can tell you the reason why the stadium is empty is because it is across the bay in St. Petersburg (although it doesn't help that the team has never had a commitment to winning). The Bucs who's stadium is in Tampa is sold out every game even when they are losing. Tampa has good fans, but they aren't willing to go across the bay in rush hour traffic unless they have to.

 

[SP33Demon]

Great season for the Rays, they have nothing to be ashamed about. They fought to the very end and every game was a dogfight. They were the best team in the AL after finishing last the year before, not to mention with the payroll analogous of a parent's salary (Boston/NYY) to a kid's allowance (Tampa). The fact that they will be very competitive for years to come is a testament to work ethic of Maddon and that organization (scouts especially). /tipscap

 

[jalaram]

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
Hats off to the Phils. If there was anyone I wanted to lose this series to, its to a team that struggled just as hard as we did to get there. Great year.

The Rays had this cinderalla story building in the AL East. Something big, something amazing. But unfortunately they were blindsided by a paralell cinderella story, The Phils, happening in the NL.

I'm rediculously proud of The Rays this year. Rediculously proud of the Phils, and baseball as well.

Ditto except that I'm ridiculously proud. LOL 😉 I can't wait until I visit Tampa during Thanskgiving. I'm planning to get some Rays gear that I can't seem to find up here.

Originally posted by: Pacemaker

As someone who used to live in Tampa I can tell you the reason why the stadium is empty is because it is across the bay in St. Petersburg (although it doesn't help that the team has never had a commitment to winning). The Bucs who's stadium is in Tampa is sold out every game even when they are losing. Tampa has good fans, but they aren't willing to go across the bay in rush hour traffic unless they have to.

No disrespect, but I was there during the creamsicle days. They only sold out the big sombrero when the Packers or Bears played because it was easier for those fans to get tix here than in GB/Chicago. I agree about the location, but a losing season for the Bucs now doesn't compare to the 2-14 fun times. Heck, a 6-10 was a great year. 🙂

 

[Pacemaker]

Originally posted by: jalaram

No disrespect, but I was there during the creamsicle days. They only sold out the big sombrero when the Packers or Bears played because it was easier for those fans to get tix here than in GB/Chicago. I agree about the location, but a losing season for the Bucs now doesn't compare to the 2-14 fun times. Heck, a 6-10 was a great year. 🙂

I wasn't there during the creamsicle days, but unless the team has some history people won't go unless the team is winning (especially if it is horribly inconvenient to go). This year will probably help the rays, but I have a feeling that if the stadium isn't moved, and the team doesn't start paying their players then it won't last.