It’s the Rays hot topic du jour. Heck, it’s the hot topic of the year.
No, it’s not the play on the field. It’s the action in the stands.
Attendance. It’s become a dirty word ‘round here.
People who are in the business have made it their business to comment on the state of the crowds who come to watch the Rays play. And most – ok, pretty much all – of that chatter is negative.
We get it. People aren’t coming to Rays games. Thanks for pointing it out to us, National Media. We weren’t sure what those vacant blue seats meant until you told us. Repeatedly.
Now please go and talk incessantly someplace else about something else that really isn’t your business.
Seems like everyone’s got an opinion on this matter – including Rays players, a couple of whom (Mr. Longoria and Mr. Price) shared their thoughts in public recently. I’m sure it’s frustrating for players – the whole “what if I threw a party and no one came” concept. But -- gents, verbalizing those thoughts after losing/not clinching a playoff berth two games in a row is not the way to win friends and influence people to get to the stadium. Or help the matter in general. I’m just saying…
Psssst... y'all picking up the tab for some tickets to give to some folks who can't afford to pick up the tab for some tickets themselves would go a long way to help assuage this little brouhaha.
Anyway.
I’ll agree that the overall Trop attendance issue is one that needs to be addressed and brainstormed. By the way, that doesn’t mean beating the subject to death without coming up with ideas on how to make the situation better. Once again, be part of the solution, people, not the problem. Like everyone and their Aunt Mildred, I’ve got some thoughts on how to get more tuchuses in seats… but now’s not the time to whip them out. That’s a conversation that can be had in depth in the off-season.
And PS: I put my money where my mouth is. I’m a Rays season ticket holder – my brother and I buy a package every year for our parents for Christmas. I also purchase single tickets frequently, both for me to catch a Saturday game and for my family to go to Sunday afternoon games – I have the kids’ giveaways to show for it. I’ve earned the right to comment on attendance.
Right now, there’s a pennant race to finish and a playoff spot to seal. Yes, it would be groovy to have a nice happy crowd to watch this happen at the Trop in the next couple of days. But I’d rather just see it play out. With the focus on the field. Where it should be at the moment.