Overall figures:
- Total August 2014 Tampa Bay Rays home attendance: 254,378
- August home games: 12
- Average attendance per game: 21,198.16
- Highest attendance: 31,042 on Sat, August 16 (sell-out)
- Lowest attendance: 13,575 on Wed, August 20
- Highest average attended series: 28,796.33 vs New York Yankees, Aug 15-17
- Lowest average attended series: 15,698 vs Detroit, Aug 19-21
Competing area sporting events:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Night Practice - August 1 (att: ~15,000)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason Game - August 16
- Tampa Bay Rowdies home soccer game - August 16 (att: 4,273)
- 66 Minor League Baseball games (avg attendance: 1,472 per game).
From 2007 to 2013, the August monthly average has been nearly identical to the Rays overall monthly average. August had the highest attendance in 2013, the lowest attendance in 2011 and 2012, was fourth in 2007 and 2008, and third in 2009 and 2010. From 2007 to 2013, the average August attendance is 0.999929% lower than the overall 2007-2013 average attendance.
- 2007-2013 Average Attendance: 20,475.72
- 2007-2013 August Average Attendance: 20,474.27
- Difference: 1.45
- Percentage: 0%
We will be using 0% as the "August factor" when we calculate how the Rays drew in 2014 compared to past results.
The following chart shows the percentage difference between the mathematically predicted Rays attendance and the actual attendance.
- 2007-2013 Avg = Rays average attendance vs specific opponent on that day since 2007. Calculated here.
- Bobblehead Bump = Average increase in attendance due to bobblehead giveaways on specific days since 2007. Calculated here.
Rays attendance exceeded their past average four times (August 1, 3, 19, 21). They failed to meet their past average the seven times. On August 16, a sell-out was expected and achieved.
On August 3rd, the Rays exceeded attendance expectations by 41.01%. August 3rd was "FSU Day" at Tropicana Field and area alumni and fans of Florida State University received an FSU-themed Rays hat.
Comparing August 2014 with Previous Years
We will now compare the August 2014 average attendance to August attendance in other recent years.
August 2014 was the fifth best August since 2007, topping 2007, 2011, and 2012. August 2014 was 464 fans per game less than August 2013. Attendance in August 2014 was 35% higher than attendance in August 2011 but 21.7% below the highest August attendance in 2009.
The below chart compares games played, record, and average attendance of the August 2014 Rays and the August 2012 Rays. Over the same amount of games, the 2014 Rays won less but drew more fans.
Through Game 68
We can't only compare attendance by past averages and overall months, we have to look at the trends based on where we are in the season. Through the end of August 2014, the Rays played 68 of their scheduled 81 home games. The following chart depicts the Rays average attendance through Game 68 from 2007 to 2014.
August 31st is the average date the Rays have reached Game 68. They played Game 68 four days earlier in 2013 and six days later in 2009 and 2012.
The Rays 2014 Game 68 average is below their 2007-2013 Game 68 average (20,408.75) by 2,050 fans per game. The average attendance at Game 68 in 2014 is the second worst since 2007, trailing only 2007.
By Game 68 in 2014 the Rays have played the average amount of weekend and weekday games as they have from 2007 to 2013. The 2014 season to date has played two more games versus the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the Rays' two highest drawing opponents, than the average season.
The following graph shows how the Rays 2014 Game 68 attendance compares to previous years.
As we enter the final month of the regular season, the Rays have 13 home games left. Of these, 1 is against Boston and 3 are against the Yankees. The retirement of Yankees star Derek Jeter should bring high numbers of Yankees fans and baseball fans to Tropicana Field for the September 15-17 series. (For our estimate of how many Yankees fans there are in Florida, click here.)
Considering the Rays have a low chance of making the playoffs and the professional and college football seasons begin, sports fans in the Tampa Bay area might find other places to spend their money. Because of the Jeter bump, September won't be worse than June (which averaged less than ~15,000) but September crowds won't be rocking the roof off the Trop either.