Rays follow up on ESPN's "Most Affordable" ranking
Rays owner Stuart Sternberg was incredibly proud over the recent rankings put out by ESPN that listed his club's fan experience as the "most affordable" in all of major sports.
And Sternberg said the plan is now to be even more affordable.
The Rays will celebrate this ranking with an "Even More Affordable Night" on Wednesday, August 19th against the Baltimore Orioles, in a game featuring 50-cent hot dogs. More details are to come.
"To get recognized by ESPN as the most affordable team in professional sports was something I know we, inside the Rays organization had celebrated dramatically," Sternberg said on a conference call. "And something, as an owner, I couldn't ask for any more. It really does talk about all the hard work, the employees we have, all the partners we have that work with us. We strive for, not to just have a great product to put on the field, and a great environment venue and offerings we put out. But to be recognized nationally when, quite frankly, in the history of this franchise, for 11 years has been somewhat of a laughingstock, to be recognized by ESPN as the No. 1 (in affordability) among all the teams in major sports, is an incredible accomplishment."
- JOE SMITH
Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
I drive 7 1/2 hours to come to games at The Trop and I love it. I know Im going to see a game, it is comfortable, the video board is great, Im not sweating the whole game because of the heat, I can eat a Blooming Onion, did I mention I get to see the game without worry that it will be rained out/delayed by rain?? I saw 9 games last year and 3 so far this year and look forward to visiting St Pete every time.
Posted by: Biscuits04 | July 11, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Kenneth, maybe im not a retard, maybe its actually you who doesnt know how to have a good time properly. These rankings are about 2-3 years old but still apply. Another thing, about your rain comment, yes, the new open air stadium would have worked moron. Have you seen the pics or read anything about the proposed stadium? Infact have you even seen a baseball game? Sounds to me that you buy tickets to hang out in a cigar bar. The Trop is undoubtedly one of the 5 worst stadiums in baseball and thats being generous. If our stadium was as good as you say it is why did BUD SELIG himself say that we need one within the next 5-10 years? Why arnt we getting allstar games? Kenneth, I really hope you read this. Facts are facts buddy. Why dont you go to the new yankee stadium and write back so i can hear how much the trop is better than that place too.
http://espn.go.com/page2/s/neel/030910.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stadiums
Posted by: KennyNance | July 11, 2009 at 08:54 AM
I'M "INCREDIBLY PROUD" OF STUART STERNBERG AND HIS MANAGEMENT GROUP FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF ST PETERSBURG AND THE WHOLE TAMPABAY AREA..YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR
LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Bud Lite | July 10, 2009 at 09:57 PM
Ordinance - you're retarded. I've always had a great time at the Trop, and it's one of my favorite parks to see a game at. Aside from the upper rafter seats (that are closed), there isn't a bad seat in the house. Temperature is great, and they have a great variety when it comes to concessions - especially for those of us who don't drink the various brands of urine beer.
My buddies and I went to a game two weekends ago. We probably only saw 2-innings from the field. We spent the rest of our time playing various games in the concourse, drinking beer, and chatting with fans and employees. We caught the end of the game from the cigar bar.
I'm sort of sick of this "worst ballpark" label. I went to a Cubs game not too long ago under the upperdeck, and couldn't see any sky - so any time a fly ball was hit, we lost it. I've watched a lot of games from the Ballpark in Arlington which is a beautiful field, but offers little in the way of concourse entertainment.
You have to have a serious stick up your tailpipe to go to the Trop and not have a good time. Time for those of us who do enjoy attending games there to speak up. Oh, and your open door stadium would have worked great the past two weeks when it was raining buckets and humid as balls.
Posted by: Kenneth | July 10, 2009 at 09:33 PM
Well they have to be affordable because they play in the worst stadium in all of sports. I would love for them to get a new ballpark, especally if they make the playoffs again. We should award the ownership and hell, the fans with a sweet water front park that will be the face of baseball and home to allstar games of the future.
Posted by: KennyNance | July 10, 2009 at 08:22 PM
That the Rays are the most affordable just shows you how insane concession and ticket prices are in professional sports. It is pretty cheap to get into the Rays game, I agree. But once you are in what happens when you feel like a couple beers and something to eat?? It's over $20 bucks for 2 12oz beers and some chips with cheese. And that's just if you are paying for yourself. I am done donating my money so these guys can be millionaires to play sports!! Not just the Rays but the Bucs too.
Posted by: NeilB1979 | July 10, 2009 at 08:00 PM
Bunch of WHINERS
Posted by: raymond | July 10, 2009 at 05:04 PM
Excuse me...SOME people that live in St Pete.
Posted by: WTF | July 10, 2009 at 04:32 PM
What is it with the separatist attitude of people that live in St Pete? I just don't get it.
Posted by: WTF | July 10, 2009 at 04:32 PM
Here come the whiny whiners whining about everything (like mm).
I just dropped my Lightning season tickets because the worst team in hockey raised my ticket prices by 65% for next year. I took my sports dollars and bought a partial-year ticket package for the Rays.
The Rays are doing the right things. Keep it up!
Posted by: chi_tino | July 10, 2009 at 04:05 PM
All of Tampa would beg to differ MR. I mean just look at the attendance at Lightning games, Bucs games, & Bulls games. Those Hillsboroughites are so loyal to their teams they pack all of those games. I'm surprised they even allow people from outside Tampa to attend!
Posted by: mm | July 10, 2009 at 03:57 PM
I'm waiting for the, "It would be cheaper in Tampa!" crowd. Because you know how expensive driving over the Frankland is.
Posted by: PDQ | July 10, 2009 at 03:55 PM
It wasn't hard to believe that a Rays game is the most affordable in baseball. $9 seats (for most games), allowance to bring your own food and drink to the game, free parking for 4+ per vehicle, (plenty availabe for free, off site, within easy, and SAFE, walk to the stadium). I doubt any team in professional sports has anything similar. The team is competitive, in the best division in baseball. The excuses to not to attend don't hold water. And no, I don't believe the attendance would be significantly better, in Tampa. It's a question of the entire area's commitment to baseball.
Posted by: MR | July 10, 2009 at 03:24 PM
ooh! ooh! me first!
Of course our loyal neighbors in hillsborough do not see this as enough of a reason to make their way aaaallll the way across the bay to see "our" team!
"we want it cheap AND effortless. waaah!"
Posted by: mm | July 10, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Here we go. Who's gonna start the "attendance debate"...
Posted by: WTF | July 10, 2009 at 02:32 PM