Overall figures:
- Total September 2014 Tampa Bay Rays home attendance: 218,256
- August home games: 13
- Average attendance per game: 16,789
- Highest attendance: 21,830 on Sat, September 20
- Lowest attendance: 10,125 on Tues, September 2
- Highest average attended series: 21,259 vs New York Yankees, September 15-17
- Lowest average attended series: 10,260 vs Toronto, September 2-4
Competing area sporting events:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - September 7 (att: 62,442)
- University of South Florida Football - September 6 (att: 28,915)
- University of South Florida Football - September 19 (att: 28,723)
- 2 Minor League Baseball games (avg attendance: 1,336 per game).
From 2007 to 2013, the September monthly average has been slightly above the Rays overall monthly average. September had the highest attendance in 2008 and 2010, was last in 2009, and finished 5th in attendance in 2012 and 2014. From 2007 to 2013, the average September attendance is 1.12% higher than the overall 2007-2013 average attendance.
- 2007-2013 Average Attendance: 20,475.72
- 2007-2013 September Average Attendance: 20,715.27
- Difference: +240
- Percentage: +1.12%
We will be using +1.12% as the "September 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 only once (September 17). They failed to meet their past average on all other dates.
On September 17th, the Rays exceeded attendance expectations by 6%. September 17th was Yankee all-star Derek Jeter's last appearance as a player at Tropicana Field. Given the large amount of New York Yankees fans in Florida, it is not surprising many fans came to see Jeter take the field one last time.
Comparing September 2014 with Previous Years
We will now compare the September 2014 average attendance to September attendance in other recent years.
September 2014 was the worst September since before 2007. September 2014 was 1,389 fans per game less than September 2013. Attendance in September 2014 was 42% lower than attendance in the highest September average attendance in 2008.
The below chart compares games played, record, and average attendance of the September 2014 Rays and the September 2012 Rays. Over the same amount of games, the 2014 Rays won less and drew less fans.
Through Game 81
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. We will deep dive into the final totals more in a later post, but for now, the following chart depicts the Rays average attendance through Game 81 from 2007 to 2014.
September 21st is tied for the earliest date the Rays reached Home Game 81. They also played Game 81 on September 21st in 2008. The latest date the Rays played their 81st home game was on October 4 in 2009.
The Rays 2014 Game 81 average is below their 2007-2013 Game 81 average (20,475.72) by 3,011 fans per game. The average attendance at Game 81 in 2014 is the second worst since 2007, trailing only 2007.
By Game 81 in 2014 the Rays played the same amount of weekend and weekday games they have in most seasons from 2007 to 2013. During the 2014 season, the Rays played two more home games versus the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the Rays' two highest drawing opponents, than they did during any season since 2007.
The following graph shows how the Rays 2014 final attendance compares to previous years.
This post concludes analysis into the Rays monthly attendance for 2014. We will have a longer deep dive into the Rays overall 2014 attendance soon as well as breakdowns by day, by month, by opponent, and by promotion.