Six home games into the Devil Rays season "is no time
to be judging the allure of the team or Tampa Bay as a
major-league market," according to Bruce Lowitt of the ST.
PETERSBURG TIMES. But the "disappointment is palpable."
The fourth game Tuesday drew a crowd of 17,660 and was the
team's lowest ever -- until last night's 17,334. The team's
average of 26,426 for its first five home games against the
Red Sox/Orioles is down 14.6% from last year's 30,939 final
season average. Rays Managing General Partner & CEO Vince
Naimoli: "We've played only six home games, and school is
not yet out." Paul Mellini, Hillsborough/Pinellas Counties
Regional President for First Union Bank, one of the team's
biggest sponsors: "We are disappointed with the attendance,
but I think it will pick up" (ST. PETE TIMES, 4/23).
D'BACKS' TWO-YEAR ITCH: The D'Backs have played 10 home
games and are averaging 34,270 fans, sixth best in the NL
and ninth best in MLB. But despite the team's marquee free
agent signings, it has drawn 119,150 fewer fans than this
time last season, the "biggest drop in the majors." The
team also raised ticket prices 12% during the offseason.
D'Backs Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo: "I'd be
lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed. Actually,
more than disappointed, I'm a little surprised. I wouldn't
have anticipated this large of a drop. It's early. The
kids are still in school" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 4/22).
EXPOS PLAN NOT ENOUGH? USA TODAY's Hal Bodley reports
that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig wants the Expos situation
resolved by the end of May, as the "latest plan to get a new
stadium falls short of MLB's criteria; the debt would be far
greater than the 40% permitted" (USA TODAY, 4/23).
MORE SEATS FOR SOX: In Boston, Gregg Krupa reports that
the Red Sox want to install about 650 seats at Fenway Park
for the July 13 All-Star Game in "order to accommodate the
expected flood of media and fans." The team said the extra
seats, "which must be approved by the city," would be used
only for the All-Star Game, as there would "be no attempts
to sell the seats" for any other games (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/23).
