Despite all the hype this season surrounding Devil Rays
VP/Sales & Marketing Mike Veeck and his "zany promotional
gimmicks," the team "is struggling more than ever to draw
fans," according to Dave Cunningham of the ORLANDO SENTINEL.
The team is performing better on the field, but its average
home attendance of 21,575 is down 34% from last year, the
largest decrease in MLB. Veeck says he's "not panicking"
yet: "It's my job to put people in here, and I'm not getting
it done." Veeck added that he expects a "boost" of 5,000
fans per game once school is over, and that an Orlando ad
campaign that launches in 2-3 weeks should also help.
Veeck, on the preseason hype surrounding his promos for the
team: "I think I made the fatal mistake in our business of
mistaking press coverage for butts in the seats. ... This is
a rebuilding job. The honeymoon, as they say, is over"
(ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/9). Devil Rays Managing General
Partner Vince Naimoli: "We've been very cautious about our
statements on attendance. We're sure it's going to pick up
after school's out, as it did last year, as long as the
product remains good" (DENVER POST, 5/10).
HOOK, LINE & SINKER: The Marlins' average attendance is
also at an all-time low, as the team, which is 8-24, is
drawing just 18,281 through 19 games. Marlins VP/Sales &
Marketing Jim Ross: "There's no great shock in all of this.
There's no mystery here. What has happened so far this
season is going to continue to happen." The Marlins are now
"focusing" their marketing efforts on weekend games, and
that the rest of the team's promotions will occur on
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (MIAMI HERALD, 5/9).
MARLINS PLAY YACHT-ZE: Marlins Owner John Henry treated
members of his team to a short cruise and brunch aboard his
165-foot yacht off San Diego on Monday. Manager John Boles:
"It was beyond first class. Even the coffee was the best
I've ever had" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 5/11).
