Of course, there are certain issues that surround their paltry attendance totals. Playing in Tropicana Field, a stadium that has been antiquated even before the Rays were even a possibility, does not help. Nor does the fact that the Trop is difficult to get to and far away from the city. Yet, the Rays have been generally playing an exciting brand of contending baseball over the past few years, so it would seem as though the fans should be coming out. People usually go out to watch winning teams, right?

Yet, that has not been the case for the Rays, and it seems as though the frustrations are beginning to reach critical mass, to the point where the Rays future may be in jeopardy. The other day, in a meeting with the Hillsborough County Commissioners, Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg stated what has long been suspected, that “Major League Baseball, at this point, doesn’t believe any more in the Tampa Bay area.” These words, a brutally honest assessment of how the Commissioner’s Office views the situation, may actually speak even louder than they already do. That quote may be the first sign that relocation may be considered an answer to the stalemate over getting the Rays a new stadium.

Another interesting note to come from the meeting is that the potential of contraction, or ‘consolidation,’ is being bandied about again. While it is exceedingly unlikely that such a drastic measure would be undertaken, just the concept being on the radar is a bit disconcerting. It also seemingly underlines the quote above, and may imply that the Rays long term future might not be in the Tampa – St. Pete area.

While the stadium impasse is likely considered the foremost obstacle for the Rays long term viability in Florida, there may be other factors. A region that is seemingly apathetic towards attending games certainly does not help. And the debacle that has been the Miami Marlins offseason likely has not engendered any trust that the Rays would not do something similar.

The Rays are in the midst of a solid run of success, and appear to be in the process of building a tradition of playing competitive, exciting baseball. Unfortunately, that tradition may not be calling Tampa home for much longer.

Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, has been a controversial topic as the Rays are looking to increase revenue, perhaps by building a new stadium. Credit: baseballpilgrimages.com

Cost and worth are two very different things. A baseball only costs a few dollars to buy, but if it has Ted Williams’ autograph on it, it is worth a lot more than the original selling price.

Everyone is saying that Tropicana Field is causing the Rays to lose too much money and the organization will only see an increase in revenue if they build a new stadium. St. Petersburg’s mayor, Bill Foster, sees the worth of having the Rays stay in his city and not move across the bay.

But what about the worth of Tropicana Field? Most people would call it a worthless dump because it is an old, indoor complex, unfit for housing a baseball team. I agree that the structure of the stadium makes it impossible to be a homerun hitter’s ballpark, due to the domed ceiling. I have watched many games where a ball was going, going, going…oh wait it hit the cat walk, and Joe Maddon shakes his head in the dugout because in any other ballpark that could have been a homerun. There are plenty of moments like that that make me dream of a new stadium as well.

But what about all of the other great moments that have been witnessed at the Trop over the past fifteen years? The first game of the organization’s first season in 1998, Wade Boggs’ 3,000^th hit, clinching the 2008 and 2010 AL East division titles, the first no-hitter ever pitched by a Rays player, and let us not forget game 162 of the 2011 season. The Trop has brought us over a decade of firsts and spectacular moments for the Rays organization, and these are only some of the top moments on the Rays’ highlight reel of firsts.

Most Major League Baseball teams have been around since at least the 1960s, with some teams’ roots stretching back to the 1800s. Sure, part of what makes organizations like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Cubs so great is their legacy of being over a hundred years old. Their fans today are committed to the organization because their great-grandparents were fans in baseball’s golden age. But, the Rays are still the new kids on the block and are working at growing their fan base. It will take time, but all good things are worth waiting for.

The Rays will eventually need a new stadium. You can no longer deny that fact. But while we play the waiting game, we can at least revel in the moments that have happened at Tropicana Field. You have to pay the cost of a ticket or cable package to attend a game or watch it at home, but witnessing Rays history is worth a lot more than that.

The Rays began their MLB lifespan as the Devil Rays, and saw fantastic recorded attendance numbers in year 1, with the highest number of attendees in any season on record. People came out (or at least bought tickets) in droves to see McCracken and Cairo lead the Devil Rays lineup to 63 wins. Ever since then, attendance has never crept over 2 million for a season.

Rays fans believe in their team, but when will the constant speculation about the Rays attendance and stadium situation come to an end? Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

So why do the Rays struggle with attendance? Since becoming the “Rays” and not the Devil Rays, attendance has improved, posting 3 of the top 4 and 5 of the top 7 attendance numbers in franchise history while in the new uniforms with the new logo. This seems to imply that on field success has an impact on attendance. But at the end of the day, does it even matter? Even after three playoff appearances and four 90-win seasons in the last five years, the Rays’ attendance remains the lowest in baseball, only fueling the fire of those that criticize the Rays for the lack of attendance! However, it’s not as simple as that.

Look at the NFL team in town. The Buccaneers had a season ticket waiting list for the longest time, but right around the time that the Rays started to become relevant, the Buccaneers started to struggle to sell out games, trading in a season ticket waiting list for special offers and promotions designed to get as many seats sold as possible. The Buccaneers decline might have to do with on field performance, but has a more obvious link to the economic stability of the nation, and the Tampa Bay area. The fact that the Rays improved attendance at a time when the economy was at its worst should be noted as an achievement, but thousands of empty seats at the Trop every night are the focal point of discussion.

A key consideration should be the location of the Trop. Saint Petersburg, Florida is (for those unaware) on the small peninsula-like outcropping that goes into Tampa Bay. While the beaches in the area are fantastic, there is nothing spectacular about downtown St. Pete, and it’s location on a peninsula means that it is less accessible to fans in surrounding areas (Lakeland, Sarasota, etc.). Add in a lack of efficient public transit, and there is certainly nothing to brag about in terms of the Rays location. Also consider that the St. Pete area has fallen in population by 1.4% since 2000, and the average income is lower than the Florida average. Add in a crime rate that is around 100% higher than the national average, and it’s clear that this isn’t an area to which central Floridians flock. So what’s the solution?

Getting a better TV deal is a first step. The Rays get very good viewership, and while TV numbers have fluctuated over the past few years, the fact remains that people will watch the Rays on TV, and that when the Rays get another chance to negotiate a TV deal, they need to blow it out of the water. An improved revenue stream from television alleviates the attendance issue, and proves to the “powers that be” that a new stadium might be a solution to get more attendance, since there is obviously local interest in the team. A new stadium would be fantastic, but as the Marlins proved this season, a new stadium is no guarantee of success financially or athletically. Admittedly, the Marlins and Rays are in completely different situations in terms of management, but our Miami brethren’s struggles should serve as a cautionary tale. The Rays are in a fine position as of now, with the money to lock up players such as Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria and have some on the side to spend. However, if the right situation presents itself to move into a new facility, the Rays will have to be quite tempted to pursue it.

I believe that the business acumen of the Rays leadership will keep the club on track regardless of attendance, television ratings, and other outside forces. Under Andrew Friedman, there has been an influx of talent thanks to excellent scouting and player development, and the skills and abilities that the front office brings to the table will be strong enough to keep the Rays relevant regardless of financial circumstances. However, most Rays fans (myself included) would love to see something finally happen in regards to attendance and location to put an end to the constant discussions and ensure a promising future for baseball in Tampa Bay.