Call to the pen
Fansided

Tampa Bay Rays: Winning solves all problems with attendance

By Nelson Barnes II

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 19: A general view of empty stadium seats at Nationals Park before the game between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park on September 19, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 19: A general view of empty stadium seats at Nationals Park before the game between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park on September 19, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

If the Tampa Bay Rays, or any other MLB team wants to improve their attendance, they need to show improvement on the field.

In January, The Tampa Bay Rays mentioned that their attendance is an issue. Their best option to fix the issue, at least for now, is to renovate the 26 year old ballpark. Deadspin reports that Rays Ownership is seeks  to reduce seating capacity by more than 5,000.

With everything factored in, the Ballpark would go down from 31,042 to 25,000. The  main goal in this whole process is the ability to provide a more ” intimate” feel for fans in the ballpark.  While doing things like this will help in the  short run, the elephant in the room just means that losing is still going to show a loss in attendance. MLB teams, if you want people to show up to games, you have to start winning.

NUMBERS DO NOT LIE

More from Call to the Pen

Teams that do not win consistently will usually find a way to try and take different routes to bring fans in the seats. The fact of the matter is when the losses mount up the ticket stubs will decrease. The Tampa Bay Rays is not the only team suffering from futility, so what they’re doing is not unique.

However, they are the most recent team to be bottom dwellers trying to find a quick and easy solution to bring fans in the seats. The Tampa Bay Rays have not had  a world series appearance since 2008 and their last post season appearance was 2013. For the past 51/2 years their attendance is poor. Franchises need to understand that at some point gimmicks do not help. If the Rays play subpar this year as well, 25,000 seats may see just 15,000.

A GOOD PRODUCT WILL AWAYS SQUASH A GOOD GIMMICK

Giveaways are awesome so there is no doubt about that. However, a good giveaway means nothing if your team is out of it by the middle of their season. Fixing the minor league system, providing good free agents and stacking some wins with good product will always feel better than a rubber bracelet. Distractions only work so far until your fanbase realizes they’re 23-54 and out of contention.

Fans gravitate to good effort and that starts all the way up the top. Organizations that emphasize wanting to win and putting together the foundations for a championship will bring fans back and avoid such things as downsizing seats.

IF YOU WIN THEY WILL COME

If it’s one thing that sports has proven over the years it’s that everyone loves a winner. As fickle as it may seem that fact will never change. Sports is short term experience that last a lifetime for people. If you win, they will come and they will appear in droves. There is no amount of seat renovations that will replace a division title, playoff appearance or world series win.

Next. The life and times of Oliver Drake. dark

If MLB fans see an effort from the front office to be heading in the right direction people will appreciate the effort and come. One way or the other, you will have to put a good team on the field.

Home/MLB News