5 Ways That The Rays Can Improve Attendance in a New Stadium

The Rays have been exploring the possibility of a new stadium for some time now, and while they have considered several locations in the city of Tampa, a new stadium in downtown St. Pete seems like the most likely outcome. Recently, details have emerged about plans for a new stadium adjacent to the current Tropicana Field site. These plans include redevelopment of the surrounding area, with the hopes that this redevelopment, along with a brand new, state-of-the-art facility, will increase attendance at Rays games. While it is debatable whether attendance has been lagging because of the outdated stadium or the location itself, I have thought of five ways the team can improve attendance if they choose to stay in downtown St. Pete.

1. A Ferry

Getting to and from Tropicana Field has often been cited as the main reason why Rays fans do not attend games on a regular basis. and for good reason. As someone who commuted daily across the Courtney Campbell Bridge, I long considered the standstill rush hour traffic on the bridge my own personal hell. So, I sympathize with those who do not want to make that drive after work to see a baseball game. But if we improve the ways fans can reach the game, we will increase turnout. A ferry from Tampa to the new stadium would be transformational. Ferries can transport hundreds of people at a time, and if this ferry included entertainment options such as a bar and a play area for kids, fans may be inclined to consider this as a viable alternative and leisurely way to get to the games.

3. A Few Buses

My third suggestion comes in the form of game-day shuttle services. This doesn’t solve the problem of commuting across the bay in rush hour traffic, but it does eliminate the stress of having to make that drive yourself while also reducing the number of cars on the road. These shuttles can also help with another major issue the Rays (and MLB teams in general) are facing. The average age of a baseball fan is about 50 years old, much older than any other sport. So, we need to refocus on the next generation of fans. Game-day shuttles and party-themed buses to games from local hotspots could rejuvenate the fanbase. Other professional sports teams (such as the Green Bay Packers) do similar things to entice fans with long commutes to come to games. The University of Tampa, USF, and the SoHo area are all places that seem ideal for this.

4. More Ticket Options

Similarly, the Rays could increase attendance among younger demographics (and at large) by expanding their ticket offering. The Rays recently announced 10-dollar tickets for select seats at home games, which is a great way to attract new fans. A few other ideas that could help improve attendance include increased flexibility with the flexible season membership and game-day rush options like the Lightning have for students (but expanded to all fans). The last ticketing option I propose is to give away a select number of free tickets each game to local little league and/or high school baseball teams. With the local TV blackout restrictions, many young fans cannot watch their local team play unless they go to the game. How are they going to become fans if they do not see the product? Since we do not yet have the storied history or sustained support other teams have, giving away tickets to local teams on a regular basis will be the best way to develop lifelong fans from an early age.

5. A Few More Promotional Events

The Rays do not have to become as theatrical as the Savannah Bananas (although I personally would enjoy that very much), but a few more promotional events should help attendance. I understand how time-intensive it is to create and execute a successful promotional day, but every game should have some sort of theme. Something as simple as dollar beer or burger nights when they are not feeling as creative should do the trick. What about the return and expansion of the concert series? Minor league teams have done a good job of coming up with promotional ideas; can the Rays? With a brand-new dome stadium, the possibilities are endless.