Sunday, July 31, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 30, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Saturday, July 30, 2016:

Total Attendance: 27,041

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 51
  • Attendance: 25,883
  • Starting Pitcher: Drew Smyly
  • Opponent: New York Yankees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Nathan Eovaldi
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,872
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 19,674
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 22,192
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 14,051
  • Promotions (if any): Post-game concert: Hunter Hayes / USF Night
  • Other local events: None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 53
  • Attendance: 1,158
  • Starting Pitcher: Sean Reid-Foley
  • Opponent: Jupiter Hammerheads
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Michael Mader
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 806
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 862
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 842
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,759
  • Promotions (if any): Junior Jays Saturday

No other area games played.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 29, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Friday, July 29, 2016:

Total Attendance: 18,422

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 50
  • Attendance: 17,856
  • Starting Pitcher: Jake Odorizzi
  • Opponent: New York Yankees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Ivan Nova
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,692
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 18,122
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 18,006
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 15,881
  • Promotions (if any): $15 Student Rush
  • Other local events: None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 52
  • Attendance: 566
  • Starting Pitcher: Jon Harris
  • Opponent: Jupiter Hammerheads
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jorgan Cavanerio
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 799
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 566
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 627
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 566
  • Promotions (if any): BOGO Margarita Night

No other area games played.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 28, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Thursday, July 28, 2016:

Total Attendance: 611

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 51
  • Attendance: 611
  • Starting Pitcher: Chris Rowley
  • Opponent: Lakeland Flying Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Matt Hall
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 804
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 548
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 786
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 778
  • Promotions (if any): Thirsty Thursday
  • Other local events: None

No other area games played.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 27, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Wednesday, July 27, 2016:

Total Attendance: 550

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 50
  • Attendance: 550
  • Starting Pitcher: Conor Fisk
  • Opponent: Lakeland Flying Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: AJ Ladwig
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 808
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 535
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 751
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 537
  • Promotions (if any): None
  • Other local events: None

No other area games played.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 26, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Tuesday, July 26, 2016:

Total Attendance: 582

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 49
  • Attendance: 582
  • Starting Pitcher: Justin Shafer
  • Opponent: Lakeland Flying Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Trent Szkutnik
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 813
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 532
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 917
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 722
  • Promotions (if any): None
  • Other local events: None

No other area games played.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 25, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Monday, July 25, 2016:

Total Attendance: 0

No area games scheduled.

Monday, July 25, 2016

When Competition in the Market is Questioned

I've talked a lot about competition on this website. I absolutely believe every local dollar spent on Spring Training and Minor League Baseball in the Tampa Bay area could be money spent on the Rays. That alternative competition drains the Rays revenue, reduces their front office flexibility, and makes them less competitive in the standings.

While perusing the Interwebs, I found a very interesting 2013 article on the Tampa Bay areas' two aquariums: the Clearwater Aquarium and the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. Entitled "Two Aquariums in Tampa Bay Would Test Support", the Tampa Bay Times talked to economists, analysts, and aquarium experts and got their thoughts on whether expansions in the Clearwater Aquarium would eventually cannibalize attendance for the Florida Aquarium, especially in regards to tourists.
"As a tourist, I'm coming down there to do a variety of different things — the beach, the DalĂ­ Museum, Busch Gardens, an aquarium. But I'm not going to spend the money to do two aquariums," said Robison, a LaSalle University economist who specializes in entertainment venues.

"You end up splitting the business. They're going to share the market, and that makes it difficult to survive."

While the Florida Aquarium has maintained a steady growth in attendance, reaching 750,000 in 2014, attendance at the Clearwater Aquarium has soared thanks to the celebrity of Winter, star of the movie Dolphin Tale. Attendance in the Clearwater Aquarium increased from 163,000 in 2010 to 800,000 in 2014.

In total, nearly 1.5 million people - tourists and locals - visited Tampa Bay area aquariums in 2014. On a related note, in 2014, 2.35 million people bought baseball tickets for Tampa Bay area Spring Training, MLB, and Minor League Baseball.

Of those, 432,000 were Spring Training (estimated 50% tourists) and the other 1.9 million were local (Rays and Minor League Baseball).

Where are the articles that ask whether baseball options cannibalize each other?

Where are the articles that ask how much expanding McKechnie Field in 2010 or Steinbrenner Field in the future will cannibalize Rays attendance or other Spring Training events?

Keep in mind, the aquariums also compete with baseball in the spring and summer. People can just as easily spend their money on an aquarium visit as they can a baseball game. While Rays tickets range from roughly $15-$50 dollars a piece, and trip to the Clearwater and Florida Aquarium costs $22 and $25, respectively.

Roughly in the same range.

One final thought: the Rays drew 1.8 million in 2010, the year the Clearwater Aquarium drew 165,000. In 2011, Clearwater Aquarium attendance jumped to 312,000. Also, Bradenton Marauders attendance jumped from 51,000 in 2010 to 102,491 in 2011. Meanwhile, Rays attendance dropped to 1.53 million.

Marauders attendance went up 50,000 in a population south of Tropicana Field and the Clearwater Aquarium attendance increased 150,000 in an area north of Tropicana Field. In the same year, Rays attendance decreased 300,000.

Of course, the Clearwater Aquarium receives a lot of tourists. There is no assumption of what percentage of guests are tourists.

We can't automatically assume aquariums and baseball can't co-exist. According to the Tampa Bay Times article, San Francisco also has two aquariums and a baseball team, and the Giants entered 2016 with a sell-out streak of over 400 games.

But the Giants have over 2 million people living within 30 minutes of AT&T Park whereas the Rays have approximately 800,000 within 30 minutes of Tropicana Field.

The bottom line is that the next time local media questions competition in the area, wonder why increased baseball competition gets a free pass. There is a tipping point to how much entertainment an area can support, even with tourist dollars.

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 24, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Sunday, July 24, 2016:

Total Attendance: 4,332

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 54
  • Attendance: 1,383
  • Starting Pitcher: John Richey
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Miles Nordgren
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,793
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 2,685
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,216
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 3,566
  • Promotions (if any): Brunch at the Ballpark
  • Other local events: None

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 53
  • Attendance: 685
  • Starting Pitcher: Domingo German
  • Opponent: Palm Beach Cardinals
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Ian McKinney
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,262
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,024
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 918
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 685
  • Promotions (if any): Family Funday

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 52
  • Attendance: 1,162
  • Starting Pitcher: Stephen Tarpley
  • Opponent: Daytona Tortugas
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Wendolyn Bautista
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,400
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,049
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 881
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,470
  • Promotions (if any): Star Wars Night

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 53
  • Attendance: 2,264
  • Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden
  • Opponent: Daytona Tortugas
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Wendolyn Bautista
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,416
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,454
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,054
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,188
  • Promotions (if any): Pokemon Go Night

No other local games scheduled.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 23, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Saturday, July 23, 2016:

Total Attendance: 5,419

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 53
  • Attendance: 3,748
  • Starting Pitcher: Ranfi Casimiro
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Fernando Romero
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,820
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 3,119
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 4,726
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 2,586
  • Promotions (if any): Fireworks / Scout Night
  • Other local events: None

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 53
  • Attendance: Postponed
  • Opponent: Daytona Tortugas

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 51
  • Attendance: 928
  • Starting Pitcher: Josh Rogers
  • Opponent: Palm Beach Cardinals
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jacob Evans
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,266
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 870
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,094
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,107
  • Promotions (if any): None

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 52
  • Attendance:1,671
  • Starting Pitcher: Yefery Ramirez
  • Opponent: Palm Beach Cardinals
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher:Matt Pearce
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,274
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,137
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,075
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,014
  • Promotions (if any): Christmas in July Toy Run

No other local games scheduled.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Marauders to host PokemonGo Day promotion

It was just a matter of time. With PokemonGo sweeping the nation and people everywhere using their phones to find Pokemon things, eventually a Tampa Bay area baseball team was going to use the craze to boost attendance.

This Sunday, the Bradenton Marauders are hosting a Pokemon Day at McKechnie Field. According to the Bradenton Patch,
Fans will be allowed onto the field after the game to hunt Pokémon alongside several Marauders players.

The Marauders will be dropping lures during their game with the Tortugas, making the field a perfect place for Pokémon trainers to capture their favorite characters.

According to Bradenton Marauders staff, McKechnie Field has become a habitat for numerous Pokémon. Pokémon characters from Pikachu to Pidgeotto have been spotted roaming the ballpark.

Between innings, contests will include “Name that PokĂ©mon,” “Find that PokĂ©mon” and other activities with a PokĂ©mon Go theme. The first 200 fans to bring a picture of a PokĂ©mon being caught at McKechnie Field to the Guest Relations Booth will receive a single PokĂ©mon card. Also, a 25 percent discount will be available at the team merchandise store for fans who show pictures of PokĂ©mon being caught at McKechnie Field.

I'll be honest. I have no idea what a Pokemon does. Not my thing. But if it gets people to the ballpark - which it just might do - then it is a great idea by the Marauders front office. Minor League Baseball has always been great at seizing popular trends and events in their promotions. Front offices have great leeway to be innovative and creative. But seizing trends often requires an understanding of those trends and how to correctly execute the promotion. I guess its safe to say someone with the Marauders knows Pokemon.

Now I wonder if any of the other local teams will follow suit.

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 22, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Friday, July 22, 2016:

Total Attendance: 3,813

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 52
  • Attendance: 3,813
  • Starting Pitcher: Drew Anderson
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Sam Clay
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,802
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 2,805
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 3,269
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 2,559
  • Promotions (if any): Post game concert: Titans for Rock / Pitch in for Pink Night
  • Other local events: None

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 52
  • Attendance: Postponed RAIN
  • Opponent: Daytona Tortugas

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 51
  • Attendance: Postponed RAIN
  • Opponent: Palm Beach Cardinals

No other local games scheduled.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 21, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Thursday, July 21, 2016:

Total Attendance: 3,545

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 51
  • Attendance: 1,796
  • Starting Pitcher: Will Morris
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Randy LeBlanc
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,782
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,796
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,964
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 2,611
  • Promotions (if any): Taps and Tacos Thursday
  • Other local events: Snoop Dogg / Wiz Khalifa concert @ Amphitheater (attendance: 12,000)

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 51
  • Attendance: 937
  • Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia
  • Opponent: Daytona Tortugas
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Tejay Antone
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,405
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 937
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 821
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,542
  • Promotions (if any): Thirsty Thursday

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 50
  • Attendance: 812
  • Starting Pitcher: Domingo Acevedo
  • Opponent: Palm Beach Cardinals
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jack Flaherty
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,273
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 812
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,701
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 884
  • Promotions (if any): Happy Hour Thursday

No other local games scheduled.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 20, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Wednesday, July 20, 2016:

Total Attendance: 1,987

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 50
  • Attendance: 1,218
  • Starting Pitcher: Jonathan Brubaker
  • Opponent: Clearwater Threshers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Luke Leftwich
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,414
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 862
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,227
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,000
  • Promotions (if any): Camp Day
  • Other local events: None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 47
  • Attendance: 769
  • Starting Pitcher: Justin Shafer
  • Opponent: Charlotte Stone Crabs
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Grayson Garvin
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 818
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 722
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 776
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 738
  • Promotions (if any): None

No other local games scheduled.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 19, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Tuesday, July 19, 2016:

Total Attendance: 1,711

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 49
  • Attendance: 639
  • Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden
  • Opponent: Clearwater Threshers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Elniery Garcia
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,418
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 743
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 621
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 829
  • Promotions (if any): None
  • Other local events: None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 46
  • Attendance: 1,072
  • Starting Pitcher: Sean Reid-Foley
  • Opponent: Charlotte Stone Crabs
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jeff Howell
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 819
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 706
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 985
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,959
  • Promotions (if any): Camp Day

No other local games scheduled.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 18, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Monday, July 18, 2016:

Total Attendance: 1,801

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 48
  • Attendance: 753
  • Starting Pitcher: Austin Coley
  • Opponent: Clearwater Threshers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: John Richy
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,435
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 796
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 771
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,440
  • Promotions (if any): None
  • Other local events: None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 45
  • Attendance: 525
  • Starting Pitcher: Francisco Rios
  • Opponent: Charlotte Stone Crabs
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Chris Pike
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 820
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 525
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,227
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 936
  • Promotions (if any): None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 46
  • Attendance: 523
  • Starting Pitcher: Chris Rowley
  • Opponent: Charlotte Stone Crabs
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Chase Whitley
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 813
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 524
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 524
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 801
  • Promotions (if any): None

No other local games scheduled.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Tampa Bay Rays Midseason Attendance Review 2016

On July 2nd, the Rays played their 41st home game of the 2016 season. This meant they were halfway done with their 81-game home schedule. At the 41 game point, Rays average attendance was 16,972, a large increase from 2015's halfway mark of 14,657.

While it is fair to speculate that 16,972 could be the Rays final attendance for their entire season, I am curious as to whether Rays home attendance typically increases or decreases over the final 40 games. Of course, there are a lot of variables at play. Attendance could be low in the first half due to regional interest in other sports such as hockey or attendance could increase in the second half due to a Rays playoff run. Or there could be better promotions in the second half than the first half. And not to be underestimated, the second half of the season usually contains more July games, which is typically the Rays best attended month of the season.

The following chart depicts Rays average attendance at the 41-game point from 2007 to 2016. It also shows the final average attendance and whether there was a gain or loss in average attendance in the second half.




The following graph depicts the above chart.




The Rays made the playoffs in 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2013. Rays second half attendance increased in 3 of those 4 seasons and barely decreased in 2011. But it also increased the most in 2007, the year the Rays lost 96 games. And it increased in 2009, 2014, and 2015, years the Rays did not make the playoffs.

We might be able to explain the 2007 second half boost by looking at the far right columns, the amount of times the Rays played the Red Sox and Yankees in the first half. In 2007, games at Tropicana Field against the Yankees and Red Sox averaged 26,847 and 27,487, respectively. The Rays played 16 second half games against those teams and fewer games against opponents who tend to draw less, so a heavy impact is to be expected.

I have often written about the drastic drop in average attendance when the Yankees and Red Sox visit. In recent years, these games carry far less weight in the Rays average attendance. In 2015, for example, the Rays played 13 of their 19 games against the Red Sox and Yankees in the first half and still had an increase in average attendance from the first to the second halves of the season.

Looking at 2012, we can possibly attribute the significant drop in attendance in the second half to increased interest in the Rays in April 2012 following the historical Game 162 and Rays playoff hunt in 2011. 2009 and 2012 are the only times since 2007 that April had the highest home average attendance of the season.




Weekends vs Weekdays Midseason Analysis

After looking at increases or decreases from the first to the second half, the next step is to look at whether those increases are during the week or during weekends. The following chart depicts Weekend Average at Game 41 and Final Weekend Attendance Average from 2007 to 2016.




There might not be a magic bullet describing why Rays second half average weekend attendance is more or less than the first half. It might be because of a combination of reasons.
  • 2007: More Yankees or Red Sox games in the second half
  • 2008: Rays playoff run
  • 2010: Rays playoff run
  • 2013: Rays playoff run
  • 2015: Low attendance in the first half due to Tampa Bay Lightning playoff run

Now let's look at Rays average weekday attendance from the first half to the second half.




This is surprising. Every year since 2007, Rays average weekday attendance has gone up in the second half.

The easy explanation is that there are more July games in the second half and July is when kids are out of school, so parents don't have to rush kids to and from the stadium during the week in July and early August. That's my explanation without doing any additional research. I am curious what day of the week sees the greatest increase from the first half to the second half or are Monday through Thursday effected equally and I might get to that some other time.

Conclusion and 2016 Second Half Prediction

I'm not a big fan of comparing attendance at one point in the season to attendance at another point in another season. That's like comparing sales at a retail store before Christmas one year to sales after Christmas in another. Let all the sales happen, then compare. Or compare at similar times in the year. That's what I did here.

A factor I did not add into this analysis is wins in the first half versus wins in the second half because I don't think it matters. We only see September attendance as one of the Rays top months in the seasons where they make the playoffs. I have yet to explore whether winning during a month might affect that month's attendance.

As for 2016, we can almost certainly count out a September playoff bump in attendance - this team has too far to climb. Given that, if the Rays saw a 4% increase in attendance in the second half, their final attendance would be 17,463 per game, which would equal 1,414,558 fans for the season. This would be an increase over 2015's attendance but less than 2014's attendance. In order to equal 2014's attendance, Rays average attendance would have to increase 4.2% in the second half. That's not out of the realm of possibility.

Although 2014 attendance was 60-100,000 less than their attendance from 2011-2013. After a collapse in attendance in 2015 and with the current state of flux on the roster and with the stadium, I guess baby steps is the way to go.

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 17, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Sunday, July 17, 2016:

Total Attendance: 17,000

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 49
  • Attendance: 16,161
  • Starting Pitcher: Jake Odorizzi
  • Opponent: Baltimore Orioles
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Dylan Bundy
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,668
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 14,719
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 19,686
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 15,702
  • Promotions (if any): Kevin Kiermaier bobblehead
  • Other local events: None

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 47
  • Attendance: 839
  • Starting Pitcher: Stephen Tarpley
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Ranfi Casimiro
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,450
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 839
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 834
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,514
  • Promotions (if any): Family Fun Sundays

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 45
  • Attendance: Suspended - RAIN
  • Opponent: Charlotte Stone Crabs

No other local games scheduled.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 16, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Saturday, July 16, 2016:

Total Attendance: 20,158

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 48
  • Attendance: 18,638
  • Starting Pitcher: Matt Moore
  • Opponent: Baltimore Orioles
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Chris Tillman
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,679
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 14,430
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 21,731
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 17,037
  • Promotions (if any): Post-game concert: Bret Michaels
  • Other local events:
    • Dierks Bentley concert @ MidFlorida Amphitheater
    • Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football @ Amalie Arena (attendance: 8,406)

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 49
  • Attendance: 1,009
  • Starting Pitcher: Josh Rogers
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Sam Clay
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,283
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 880
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,132
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,151
  • Promotions (if any): None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 44
  • Attendance: 511
  • Starting Pitcher: Conor Fisk
  • Opponent: Bradenton Marauders
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 827
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 978
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 802
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 531
  • Promotions (if any): Junior Jays Saturday

No other local games scheduled.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 15, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Friday, July 15, 2016:

Total Attendance: 19,872

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 47
  • Attendance: 17,672
  • Starting Pitcher: Chris Archer
  • Opponent: Baltimore Orioles
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Yovanni Gallardo
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,637
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 13,379
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 18,025
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 19,197
  • Promotions (if any): $15 Student Rush
  • Other local events: None

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 48
  • Attendance: 1,175
  • Starting Pitcher: Domingo Acevedo
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Randy LeBlanc
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,290
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 837
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,117
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 909
  • Promotions (if any): Wing Deal Friday

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 43
  • Attendance: 1,025
  • Starting Pitcher: Justin Shafer
  • Opponent: Bradenton Marauders
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jonathan Brubaker
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 834
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,134
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 636
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 734
  • Promotions (if any): Beer, Bacon, & Fireworks Night

No other local games scheduled.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 14, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Thursday, July 14, 2016:

Total Attendance: 1,371

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 47
  • Attendance: 732
  • Starting Pitcher: James Reeves
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Randy Rosario
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,292
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 668
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,813
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 784
  • Promotions (if any): Happy Hour Thursday
  • Other local events: None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 42
  • Attendance: 639
  • Starting Pitcher: Sean Reid-Foley
  • Opponent: Bradenton Marauders
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 830
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,189
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 808
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 2,403
  • Promotions (if any): Thirsty Thursday

No other local games scheduled.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 13, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Wednesday, July 13, 2016:

Total Attendance: 2,343

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 46
  • Attendance: 604
  • Starting Pitcher: Will Carter
  • Opponent: Fort Myers Miracle
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Keaton Steele
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,306
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 604
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 723
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 937
  • Promotions (if any): Kids Eat Free Wednesday
  • Other local events: None

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 41
  • Attendance: 1,739
  • Starting Pitcher: Chris Rowley
  • Opponent: Bradenton Marauders
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Austin Coley
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 834
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,739
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 777
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 847
  • Promotions (if any): None

No other local games scheduled.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Tampa Bay Rays June 2016 Attendance Review

Welcome to our third monthly review of the Tampa Rays 2016 attendance. This post will look at attendance in games played at Tropicana Field from June 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016.
  • Total June 2016 Tampa Bay Rays home attendance: 230,219
  • Average attendance per game: 17,709
  • Highest attendance: 40,135 on Friday, June 17th
  • Lowest attendance: 10,729 on Thursday, June 30th
  • Average June game time: 3 hours, 10 minutes
  • Highest attended series: 81,414 vs Giants, June 17-19
  • Lowest attended series: 35,025 vs Mariners, June 14-16
  • Competing events:
    • June 27th: WWE RAW June 27 @ Amalie Arena
    • June 18th: Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football @ Amalie Arena (Attendance: 9,670)
    • June 17th: Keith Urban concert @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater
    • June 11th: Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football @ Amalie Arena (Attendance: 8,418)
  • Total Tampa Bay Minor League June attendance: 75,043
  • Tampa Bay Minor League attendance per game: 1,416 (53 games)

Comparing June 2016 with previous years

The following chart compares June 2016 average attendance to other recent years.




The average June 2016 attendance was 22.3% better (3,228 fans per game) than the June 2015 per game average. June 2016 was the highest average June attendance since 2012. The Rays have also not had a winning record at home in June since 2009, proving again that wins and attendance are not correlated.




Weekdays vs Weekends

Let’s now look at the Rays June attendance on weekdays (Mon-Thurs) and weekends (Fri-Sun). As I have pointed out many times, the Rays usually have one of the biggest differences in Major League Baseball in regards to weekday versus weekend attendance.

This chart shows the Rays average weekday attendance in June since 2007.




In 2016, the Rays stopped a 4-year slide in June average weekday attendance. Average weekday attendance in June was its highest since 2012.

The following chart shows Rays average weekend attendance in June since 2007.




June 2016 weekend average attendance also saw an increase in attendance over June 2015 average attendance. June 2016 weekend average attendance was the highest since the 2012 June weekend average.
  • 2016 June weekend games (average attendance): 6 games (20,891)
  • 2016 June weekday games (average attendance): 7 games (14,982)
  • Percentage increase on weekends: 39.4%

Conclusion

An increase in average attendance in June 2016 is a good sign. Since 2007, June has been the Rays second worst month for average attendance. It was the worst month in 2010 and 2014. It has never been their best month for average attendance. So an increase in June might indicate increased interest in buying Rays tickets.

Of course, the biggest driver for attendance in June 2016 was the Pride Night sell-out of over 40,000 fans. The game, which was a promotional event to raise money for the Orlando tragedy, marked the first time in 10 years the Rays filled the Trop completely, removing the tarps in the upper deck. While Pride Night effected the overall and weekend attendance, it is important to note average weekday attendance also increased 28%. The reason for this increase is primarily the above average attendance for the Rays series against the Red Sox from June 27 to June 29th, including another return start for longtime Rays pitcher David Price.

The increase in Rays attendance on dates the Red Sox visit is interesting, as Red Sox visiting attendance has dropped considerably in recent years. Perhaps visiting opponent record is worth looking into as a factor for attendance. Do more fans come to Tropicana Field to see Red Sox versus Rays when Team A is good, Team B is good, or both teams are good?

There were also some very good promotional dates in June, to include Top Off The Trop/FSU Day (June 18) and Star Wars Day (June 11).

Upcoming in July is the Rays typical best month for average attendance. They play 9 weekend games and only 4 weekday games all month, to include a final July series against the Yankees, Tampa Bay's second favorite team. So all the factors are there for another successful July.

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 12, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Tuesday, July 12, 2016:

Total Attendance: ZERO (MLB All-Star game)

No local games scheduled.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 11, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Monday, July 11, 2016:

Total Attendance: 3,535

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 50
  • Attendance: 1,731
  • Starting Pitcher: Yacksel Rios
  • Opponent: St Lucie Mets
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Scarlyn Reyes
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,802
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,856
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,615
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,947
  • Promotions (if any): Feeding Frenzy
  • Other local events: None

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 46
  • Attendance: 1,804
  • Starting Pitcher: Stephen Tarpley
  • Opponent: Brevard County Manatees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Bubba Derby
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,463
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,265
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 774
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,627
  • Promotions (if any): None

No other local games scheduled.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 10, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Sunday, July 10, 2016:

Total Attendance: 2,271

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 49
  • Attendance: 1,305
  • Starting Pitcher: Drew Anderson
  • Opponent: St Lucie Mets
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Chris Flexen
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,824
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,897
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,308
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,305
  • Promotions (if any): Brunch at the Park
  • Other local events: None

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 45
  • Attendance: 966
  • Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia
  • Opponent: Brevard County Manatees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jon Perrin
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,456
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,085
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 833
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,618
  • Promotions (if any): Family Fun Sunday

No other local games scheduled.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 9, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Saturday, July 9, 2016:

Total Attendance: 3,821

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 48
  • Attendance: 2,705
  • Starting Pitcher: Shane Watson
  • Opponent: St Lucie Mets
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: PJ Colon
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,705
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 2,193
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 4,889
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 3,294
  • Promotions (if any): Bark at the Park
  • Other local events: None

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 44
  • Attendance: 1,116
  • Starting Pitcher: Jonathan Brubaker
  • Opponent: Brevard County Manatees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Cody Ponce
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,467
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,145
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,861
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 928
  • Promotions (if any): Cancer Awareness Night

No other local games scheduled.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 8, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Friday, July 8, 2016:

Total Attendance: 2,856

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 47
  • Attendance: 1,681
  • Starting Pitcher: Ranfi Casimiro
  • Opponent: St Lucie Mets
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Andrew Church
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,860
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,681
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 3,191
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 2,441
  • Promotions (if any): Free Shirt Friday
  • Other local events: None

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 43
  • Attendance: 1,175
  • Starting Pitcher: Buddy Borden
  • Opponent: Brevard County Manatees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Kodi Medeiros
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,475
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,175
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,528
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 925
  • Promotions (if any): Friends and Family Night

No other local games scheduled.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 7, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Thursday, July 7, 2016:

Total Attendance: 15,975

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 46
  • Attendance: 14,576
  • Starting Pitcher: Blake Snell
  • Opponent: Anaheim Angels
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Hector Santiago
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,614
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 13,817
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 11,750
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 15,448
  • Promotions (if any): Kids Camp Day
  • Other events: None

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 45
  • Attendance: 748
  • Starting Pitcher: James Reeves
  • Opponent: Lakeland Flying Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Trent Szkutnik
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,323
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 927
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,967
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 797
  • Promotions (if any): Happy Hour Thursday

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 45
  • Attendance: 651
  • Starting Pitcher: Chris Rowley
  • Opponent: Clearwater Threshers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Luke Leftwich
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 811
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 812
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 832
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 670
  • Promotions (if any): Thirsty Thursday

No other local games scheduled.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Clearwater and Dunedin Baseball and Fireworks Outdraw Rays



I've often written about how great fireworks is as a promotion. People love fireworks. Fireworks are a fun end to a baseball game. Especially when that game is on July 4th weekend. Fireworks and baseball on the Fourth of July is as American as apple pie, Mom, and political gridlock.

When the Rays announced their 2016 schedule, I noticed they were finally playing July 4th weekend. This is a rarity. Since 2007, the Rays have only played on July 4th three times (2008, 2012, and 2016). My theory on this is because there is a lack of potential revenue when the Rays play at home on July 4th. If the Rays were to play on the road at a non-dome stadium, the home team can have a fireworks post-game extravaganza which would draw more fans and make that team more money. Major League Baseball is not in the business of making less money, hence the Rays typically play on the road on the Fourth of July.

The Rays lack of fireworks capability hurts them at the gate when they are home for Fourth of July weekend. Not only are Tampa Bay residents going to beaches and bar-b-ques all weekend, they are also going to local Minor League games where post-game fireworks on the Fourth of July are a regular tradition.

Tampa Bay area Minor League teams usually draw very well on July fourth. For most teams, it is their highest attended game of the year.

This year, from July 1 to July 4th, Tampa Bay area Minor League teams drew a combined 31,863 fans. The Rays drew 59,056 fans over the same dates. Minor League Baseball drew 47% of Rays attendance over the weekend. Over the course of a season, that ratio is usually closer to 33% (avg of 5,000 MiLB total to 15,000 avg for the Rays).

Minor League success and Rays poor potential on July the fourth weekend opened up the possibility of the Rays being outdrawn by Minor League teams. This occurrence does not happen often - only twice in the past ten years.

But it happened again.

On Sunday, July 3rd, Tampa Bay area Minor League Baseball outdrew the Tampa Bay Rays. While the Rays drew 13,126, local Minor League teams drew a total of 13,179, exceeding Rays attendance by 53 people.
  • Rays: 13,126
  • Clearwater Threshers: 9,012
  • Dunedin Blue Jays: 4,167

Both the Threshers and the Blue Jays featured fireworks promotions on July 3rd. Both teams took to the road and played at another stadium on July 4th.

Reminder: This does not happen in any other market. No other MLB teams have to worry about being out-promoted by an alternate baseball venue. Fireworks are a Minor League park happened to the north of the Rays (Dunedin), NE of the Rays (Clearwater), East of the Rays (Tampa), and south of the Rays (Bradenton). Wherever fans lived, there was a fireworks display at a baseball game close by.

With Rays tickets cheaper than they have been for years, this is a problem of proximity and the lack of capabilities of Tropicana Field. Perhaps one day if Tampa Bay gets a new baseball centralized stadium and a new highways, byways, and mass transit to get people there, the Rays will see sell-outs on July 4th as other teams do and the idea of seeing 4th of July fireworks at a Minor League Baseball game will be less of an option.

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 6, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Wednesday, July 6, 2016:

Total Attendance: 12,052

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 45
  • Attendance: 11,267
  • Starting Pitcher: Drew Smyly
  • Opponent: Anaheim Angels
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jared Weaver
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,660
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 13,565
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 13,827
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 12,572
  • Promotions (if any): $2 Hot Dog Wednesday
  • Other events: None

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 44
  • Attendance: 785
  • Starting Pitcher: Will Carter
  • Opponent: Daytona Tortugas
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Wendolyn Bautista
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,337
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,690
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 743
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,020
  • Promotions (if any): Kids Eat Free Wednesday

No other local games scheduled.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 5, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Tuesday, July 5, 2016:

Total Attendance: 18,293

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 44
  • Attendance: 14,896
  • Starting Pitcher: Jake Odorizzi
  • Opponent: Anaheim Angels
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Tim Lincecum
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,782
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 14,714
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 13,070
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 15,656
  • Promotions (if any): $2 Kids Tuesday
  • Other events: None

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 43
  • Attendance: 652
  • Starting Pitcher: Yefrey Ramirez
  • Opponent: Daytona Tortugas
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Tejay Antone
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,351
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,872
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 775
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 686
  • Promotions (if any): 2-for-1 Tuesday

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 46
  • Attendance: 2,745
  • Starting Pitcher: Will Morris
  • Opponent: Lakeland Flying Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Matt Hall
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,886
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 3,033
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 3,510
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 2,773
  • Promotions (if any): $1 Tuesday

No other local games scheduled.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Is Tampa Bay too tangled with traffic to keep baseball?

There was a very interesting article in the Tampa Bay Business Journal recently. Written by reporter Janelle Irwin, the article discussed how bad Tampa Bay traffic congestion really is. According to the TTBJ, information from the Florida Department of Transportation states I-275 is at or above capacity throughout most of the region.
Capacity is the “maximum sustainable hourly flow rate at which persons or vehicles can be expected to pass through a point or uniform section of a land or roadway during a given time period,” according to FDOT.
The TBBJ also states:
I-275 operates at capacity from the Hillsborough County line to Kennedy Boulevard – think the span of the Howard Frankland Bridge at the hump past the Veteran’s interchange – and then again from Fowler Avenue to Fletcher Avenue, the two exits for the University of South Florida, which serves as Hillsborough County’s largest employment center.

In Pinellas County, I-275 is over capacity between the two downtown connectors and from 22nd Avenue North to Gandy Boulevard. Spans of interstate functioning at capacity run from Gandy to Roosevelt and from Ulmerton to the County line. That’s basically the entire stretch of I-275 from 22nd Avenue North in St. Petersburg to Fletcher Avenue that is running at or above capacity.
The TBBJ published the following map of Hillsborough County to depict the results of the Dept of Transportation:




The red lines are every road that is at or over capacity. That's what my GPS looks like every day.

Of course, Tropicana Field is not in the middle of this traffic mess. It is on the far outside. 22 blocks south of the Pinellas congestion, in an area that includes probably close to if not less than 25% of the region's population.

This a major problem for baseball in Tampa Bay. The region not only needs a new baseball stadium, it also needs a major transit transformation. There is talk that if traffic doesn't improve, Tampa Bay could lose out on businesses far more important than baseball. The Rays have survived with traffic and congestion as it is. It has not been a prosperous survival, but they have been profitable, thanks to other revenue streams.

But congestion could cost Tampa Bay other corporations who decide not to relocate or build in the area due to the traffic mess.

Both expanding the highways, increasing mass transit, and building a new baseball stadium cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The area cannot build a new baseball field and not improve transit. And plunging all the money into transit and telling the Rays and MLB to fund the stadium themselves might mean the team moves to other pastures.

So a lot of money needs to be spent on many projects simultaneously.

As far as other baseball in the area, Bradenton's McKechnie Field, Dunedin's Florida Auto Exchange Stadium also sit outside the traffic congestion, but Minor League teams only need far less people in the stands to fill the ballpark. But with four Minor League alternatives closer and more convenient, why should Tampa Bay residents regularly deal with the stress of overcrowded traffic congestion to see baseball?

The impact of traffic on baseball attendance in Tampa Bay can not be understated. It is one of the most under-understood parts of the problem.

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 4, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Monday, July 4, 2016:

Total Attendance: 17,681

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 43
  • Attendance: 14,532
  • Starting Pitcher: Matt Moore
  • Opponent: Anaheim Angles
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Nick Tropeano
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,826
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 14,532
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 15,167
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 16,891
  • Promotions (if any): Military Monday
  • Other events: Fireworks events throughout Tampa Bay

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 42
  • Attendance: 3,149
  • Starting Pitcher: Ian Clarkin
  • Opponent: Daytona Tortugas
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Ismael Guillon
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,370
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 2,177
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,115
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,817
  • Promotions (if any): Post-game fireworks

No other local games scheduled.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 3, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Sunday, July 3, 2016:

Total Attendance: 26,305

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 42
  • Attendance: 13,126
  • Starting Pitcher: Chris Archer
  • Opponent: Detroit Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Mike Pelfrey
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,881
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 14,841
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 20,127
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 19,367
  • Promotions (if any): Giveaway: Rays Pennant Flag
  • Other events: Fireworks events throughout Tampa Bay

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 45
  • Attendance: 9,012
  • Starting Pitcher: John Richey
  • Opponent: Brevard County Manatees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Kodi Medeiros
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,889
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 4,678
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,434
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 4,111
  • Promotions (if any): Fireworks

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 39
  • Attendance: 4,167
  • Starting Pitcher: Sean Reid-Foley
  • Opponent: Tampa Yankees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Josh Rogers
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 815
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,211
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,367
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 4,167
  • Promotions (if any): Fireworks

No other local games scheduled.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 2, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Saturday, July 2, 2016:

Total Attendance: 30,440

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 41
  • Attendance: 17,861
  • Starting Pitcher: Blake Snell
  • Opponent: Detroit Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Justin Verlander
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,972
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 14,042
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 22,173
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 15,738
  • Promotions (if any): Giveaway: Rays Floppy Hat
  • Other events: Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer @  Al Lang Field (attendance: 7,690)

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 44
  • Attendance: 6,201
  • Starting Pitcher: Shane Watson
  • Opponent: Brevard County Manatees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Eric Hanhold
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,747
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 3,811
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 5,326
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 3,411
  • Promotions (if any): Fireworks

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 42
  • Attendance: 5,810
  • Starting Pitcher: Austin Coley
  • Opponent: Charlotte Stone Crabs
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Henry Centeno
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,483
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,897
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 3,110
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,517
  • Promotions (if any): Fireworks

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 38
  • Attendance: 568
  • Starting Pitcher: Chris Rowley
  • Opponent: Tampa Yankees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Domingo Acevedo
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 725
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 620
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 844
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 674
  • Promotions (if any): None

No other local games scheduled.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - July 1, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Friday, July 1, 2016:

Total Attendance: 16,313

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 40
  • Attendance: 13,537
  • Starting Pitcher: Drew Smyly
  • Opponent: Detroit Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Michael Fullmer
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 16,950
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 12,133
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 18,075
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 12,759
  • Promotions (if any): $15 Student Tickets
  • Other events: Warped Tour @ Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg

Dunedin Blue Jays:
  • Team Home Game #: 37
  • Attendance: 551
  • Starting Pitcher: Conor Fisk
  • Opponent: Tampa Yankees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Will Carter
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 729
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 634
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 571
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 551
  • Promotions (if any): BOGO Margaritas

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 43
  • Attendance: 1,887
  • Starting Pitcher: Ranfi Casimiro
  • Opponent: Brevard County Manatees
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Bubba Derby
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,665
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 3,213
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 3,443
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 2,549
  • Promotions (if any): Free shirt Friday / Greg Billings post-game concert

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 41
  • Attendance: 518
  • Starting Pitcher: Stephen Tarpley
  • Opponent: Charlotte Stone Crabs
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Benton Moss
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,375
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 1,115
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,754
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,591
  • Promotions (if any): None

No other local games scheduled.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Tampa Bay Baseball Attendance Report - June 30, 2016

Tampa Bay baseball attendance for Thursday, June 30, 2016:

Total Attendance: 14,104

Tampa Bay Rays:
  • Team Home Game #: 39
  • Attendance: 10,729
  • Starting Pitcher: Jake Odorizzi
  • Opponent: Detroit Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jordan Zimmerman
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 17,038
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 10,729
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 11,043
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 15,741
  • Promotions (if any): $15 Senior Thursday
  • Other events: None

Tampa Yankees:
  • Team Home Game #: 41
  • Attendance: 721
  • Starting Pitcher: Yefrey Ramirez
  • Opponent: Lakeland Flying Tigers
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jeff Thompson
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,322
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 963
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 2,170
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 721
  • Promotions (if any): Happy Hour Thursday

Clearwater Threshers:
  • Team Home Game #: 42
  • Attendance: 1,919
  • Starting Pitcher: Luke Leftwich
  • Opponent: Dunedin Blue Jays
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Justin Shafer
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 2,684
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 2,994
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 1,997
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,919
  • Promotions (if any): Taps and Tacos Thursday

Bradenton Marauders:
  • Team Home Game #: 40
  • Attendance: 735
  • Starting Pitcher: Yeudy Garcia
  • Opponent: Jupiter Cardinals
  • Opponent Starting Pitcher: Jeff Brigham
  • Avg Attendance to Date: 1,396
  • Avg Attendance vs Opponent: 830
  • Avg Attendance per Day of the Week: 807
  • Avg Attendance for Starting Pitcher: 1,711
  • Promotions (if any): Thirsty Thursday

No other local games scheduled.