Will Sox fans be outnumbered at Trop?

The Times' Curtis Krueger is working on a story about Rays -- and Sox -- fans and needs your help.

Rays fans, remember those regular-season games when it sounded like Red Sox Nation outnumbered you? What's it going to be like this time?

Sox fans, are you planning to come to the championship series games at the Trop on Friday and Saturday?

Send Krueger a short e-mail with your name, phone number and a couple of sentences explaining why you root for either the Boston Red Sox or the Tampa Bay Rays. We’ll include some of your comments in an upcoming article.

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Comments

[9equals8.com]

Eric - it's convenient to ignore 1981-1985. 1981, the Red Sox drew a whopping 1.0 million fans! Yes, that was a strike shortened season, but they only lost about 1/3 of their games. So, that means normalized attendance would have been about 1.5 million. They drew about 1.7-1.8mm in 1982-1985. That's pretty bad for a major market team with 100+ years of history and generations of fans. But, then the Sox went to the WS and attendance spiked - go figure. Should we call Red Sox fans bandwagoneers?

BTW - Tropicana Field is the smallest ballpark in the MLB by capacity (~35k), so the size argument doesn't make any sense when comparing Fenway to the Trop.

[SoxFan]

"screw any of those reports that show the RAYS have had the best minor league system over the last couple of years"

Hey fake SoxFan, scouting organization <> minor league system in this context, and you can actually read a FL blog outside of FL, you astonishingly thick simpleton - or should I say "Florida genius"?

Nanette, keep thinking that, it will make you happy for a few more days and there's nothing wrong with that. You might want to check with STL '04, COL '07, and LAA '08 fans for tips in dealing with getting whupped by the Sox when you thought you were a lock. Here's a tip, blaming it on poor TB scouts will actually help at that point.

[Eric]

"Boston didn't draw until '86"...

Let's look at that statement. Boston home attendence (remember they had the smallest park in the AL):
* 1985: 1,786,633 (7th of 14 Al Teams)
* 86: 2,147,641 (5th of 14)
* 87: 2,231,551 (5th of 14)
* 88: 2,464,851 (4th of 14)
* 89: 2,510,012 (5th of 14)
* 90: 2,528,986 (4th of 14)
...
* 2003: 2,724,165 (4th of 14)
* 2004: 2,837,294 (4th of 14)
* 2005: 2,847,888 (3rd of 14)
* 2006: 2,930,588 (4th of 14)
* 2008: 3,048,250 (4th of 14)

So, I'll give you that the Sox had a bit of a spike in 1986, when they had a good team after several years of bad teams, but they NEVER were at the bottom of the league in attendence, as the Rays have been since day 1. Where is the Rays spike.

I GUARANTEE that the Sox fans will outnumber the Rays fans by the end of htis series in the Trop.

[Josh]

I have 2 tickets for game 2 in section 138 row h available for sale!!!

These are pretty good seats.

Rays Fans Only Please!

Jstarion@gmail.com

[Nanette]

Hey Sox Fan, Thank's so much for sharing that amazing observation. I feel so secure knowing that you have taken on the task of scouring the blog.
I'm sure that you have great wisdom, but unfortunately that won't impact the fact that the Sox are going down. Have a nice day...Shall I add this to the other blog too?

[SoxFan]

hey guys, got some chapstick???
I've been whistlin' by the graveyard so much my lips are about to crack off my ugly mug!
I only believe what the Boston Globe tells me to say ... screw any of those reports that show the RAYS have had the best minor league system over the last couple of years because I wanna believe that our imagiNATION has something going on!
Sure, I just started following them in '04, I've never been outside of central FL in my entire 17 yrs of existence but every time mom and dad leave on Fri night to go see a movie I do sneak a Sam Adams ... that's gotta count for something, right???

[SoxFan]

Nanette, thanks for the same exact post in multiple threads.

Sox will shock TB and whoever comes next for the same reason they shocked STL in 04 and COL in 07 - scouting. The Sox scouting organization is head and shoulders above everyone else's. No one else even comes close. Not often talked about outside of baseball circles, but the evidence is undeniable. They'll know what Maddon's going to do before Maddon does.

[David]

Will I be there? Hell no, I had a password and tried for an hour to get tickets. I guess the Rays passed out to many to the ticket scalpers, and now they help them stick it to the fans by endorsing Stub Hub. What a crock

[Nanette]

Um, Red Sox Ricki,
Sorry to tell you this, but our Rays will be pulling the threads out of your Sox in short order.
I grew up in the Bronx and watched the Yankees for decades and I'm telling you that the Rays are going to be the NEW Dynasty in Baseball. Red Sox and Yankees days are numbered. 2008 is only the beginning.

[Red Sox Ricki]

Who you picking, Phils or Dodgers to play the Sox in the World Series?

[FREE the TARPS]

FREE the TARPS...

Sell TARP TICKETS, now!!!

[Joisey]

What will Red Sox Nation's excuse be when Da Rays win in 5-Brady was out?.

[Red Sox Ricki]

Sox in 6, nice try Devil Rays.

[Meg]

Let's see Tampa Bay is the FL area with the largest unemployment. Boston expenses high, same job in Tampa earning $30K earns $70K in Boston + tickets weren't available after 15 minutes on the "ticket lottery" so scalpers asking prices higher than the catwalks = more Boston Red Sox fans in the Trop than Tampa Bay Rays fans. Go to Fergs or any other sports bar in the 5 closest counties and you'll find the Rays fans in front of tvs there and at home.

[Danny]

I'll be there. If you're one of the people like me that have tickets to both the lightning(opening night) and the rays game saturday night; don't count on the NHL changing the time of the bolts game. Carolina has a late game the night before. Sell your lightning tickets and come support the rays!!
I'll see you all at all the ALCS Games. LETS GO RAYS!!

[No Worries]

I tried, didn't get in, and now have approximatley $300 to go out to dinner, buy some pop, get in by 8:00, watch the Rays kick Bosux where it counts, and go staight to bed at 1:45 when the game ends without spending a couple of hours getting home.

[Charlie G]

How are things more democratic? Where are most people at 9AM on a weekday? At work. And how is the dad/mom/guy/gal who doesn't work on a computer or even have a computer at their workstation supposed to be online at 9AM exactly and fight the hordes logging on? And what about the peeps from Anywhere USA getting into the lottery for the exclusive purpose of selling heir passcode or tickets to stubhub or put them up on e_bay or craig's list, never having any intention of attending the game, and maybe being a fan of Profits instead of baseball. It's not democratic, it's dog eat dog and sell the tix to the highest bidder. As for buying into season tickets with a group, that might work going forward after this years success, but selling that idea over the past 10 years has been met with alot of funny looks.

[luisgarcia813]

ALCS Tickets: Contact me at- luisgarcia813@gmail.com

GAME 1:
(1) Seat Location: Section 139, Row BB, Seats 15

GAME 2:
(1) Seat Location: Section 319, Row F, Seats 17
(4) Seat Location: Section 136, Row AA, Seats 1 - 4

[9equals8.com]

The truth is that things are more democratic now than they were in the past. The good news is that there is tremendous demand for tickets and the Trop will be rocking! For those of you that missed out, why don't you band together and create a group of folks to buy season tickets? I know tons of people that do a syndicate and it works great. All these comments about I went to 30 games and can't see the playoffs is silly. If you can go to 30 games, find 2 more people that want to see 20-30 games and split tickets with them. Then, you split the postseason tickets through a drawing. This is a very cost-effective way to do it and IT WORKS! No more playoff ticket stress. The truth is that there is no system that will make everyone happy, but this one is not all that bad.

Or, just sign the petition to remove the Tarps below.

http://www.petitiononline.com/NoTarps/petition.html

[Charlie G]

Amanda-
Yeah, that's fair, it gives alternatives to folks.

[Amanda]

Charlie-
Not a bad plan. But then there will be those who claim that it's unfair because their boss won't let them off work, they have to go to school, they live in another state (or in a place like Jacksonville or Miami). Maybe half-and-half?

[Charlie G]

Future ticket opportunities for playoffs (like for the next 4 years here at the Trop) should be the old fashioned camp out 2 days in advance in the window line and you have to physically show up at the window to get tix. That way true Rays fans can get tix if they are willing to sacrifice time and spend shifts in line. That would eliminate the techy advantage and keep fans in Boston from getting in on the lottery. This lottery thing was exasperating for people who use a computer everyday, think how frustrating it was for the seniors who go to Rays games fairly regularly but don't even own a computer. I say old school wait in line and show your passion is a better and fairer way to do it.

Majority Rays fans in the stands?
Not after the experiences of the majority of local Rays fans trying to get tickets. It'll be great watching OUR team playing for the pennant while being boo'd from our own stands by sux fans who bought tix on scalper-hub thanks to our own ownership shafting us local fans with their fake lottery.

[Raysfan4ever]

Im hoping that the majority is Rays fan, although I know there will be a fair number of Sox fans there. I just hate dealing with Sox fans, there so rude and arrogant and think that their baseball team rules this country. But excuse me, who won the division ??? Thats right, the Rays baby!

[Charlie G]

BUCK FOSTON

[9equals8.com]

Rays outnumbered Red Sox by 3 to 1 in the last series of the regular season. This sillyness about "Fenway South" and more Red Sox than Rays fans at the Trop is a thing of the past (or at least a thing of the earlier part of this year). The final series at the Trop between these two teams was heavy Rays fans. I predict it will be MAX 15% Red Sox for the ALCS. Tampa Bay has caught Rays fever (similar to how Boston caught Red Sox fever in 1986 and never looked back). Red Sox attendance was about 21k/game for 5-6 years in thh 80's until the Red Sox made it to the WS in 1986, you know.

[Brian J]

I hope the animosity between fans calms down. I sat in the Trop when it was an echo chamber and I am thrilled that a winning team is bringing in new fans. Enjoy it, it's exciting. If you are one of us who sat through the rough years, relax, enjoy it, and be inviting to the newbies. As for the pink hats . . .

[mm]

The thing is the tickets went on sale down here BEFORE either final ALDS game was played. I would hope that RAYS fans were the lucky ones to scoop up all the tickets. It would be hard for me to believe that Boston fans would be registered with Raysbaseball.com without knowing that they would be here.

[Rays are Gays]

Tampa Bay is always outnumbered at their own park. Despite what these "fans" think, the Red Sox travel incredibly well. Remember "Let's Go Red Sox" chants at Coors Field?

Remember, even at the scalper prices in Tampa, it's cheaper for Bostonians to come down, buy tickets and stay in a hotel than it is to get tickets to Fenway.

[Harold]

Sorry Amanda
I just think it is a repeat of the same ole same ole. Ad It wasn't just the last series. Any one who had been to the games would know that it was nothing like the prior years and I think it foolish to perpetuate a myth especially by the local writers. I think they ow the area a better job than that.

[Amanda]

Easy there, Harold! I know you're aggravated by the Pink Sox around here, but don't take it out on the poor writers!
I'm pretty sure what they meant was "Have we finally reached an era where from now on Rays fans will outnumber Sox fans?"
Like a "from now on" kinda thing.
I know you're on edge, Harold. I think most of us are. Just don't misdirect that; you're usually the level-headed one around here!

[Harold]

Dude
There were outnumbered in the last series at home. Whats with the "finally"? do some research before writing. Thats what you get paid for isn't it? Have you even been to a game or just going on what 'Your Sources" told you?
Get a real job if this is the best you can do.

[Allow me to answer]

Let's see, I grew up in the Tampa Bay area and my family is lucky enough to make our home here.
I live in this community and I proudly support all of the local teams through thick & thin ... unlike these front-runnin' Johnny-come-latelys who were NOWHERE to be found until they found the comfort of a couple World Series titles over the last 4 years.
Did I mention that Front-Runnin' PUKES who don't have a spine or high enough self-esteem always find the need to hitch on to the current winner/flavor du jour???

[Duh]

Duh.