The Rays on Saturday hosted the first scheduled traditional doubleheader in MLB since '11 against the A's, and "despite heavy promotion, the Tampa Bay market responded with only tepid interest, an announced crowd of 17,775," according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The attendance figure was "certainly disappointing as the Rays were eyeing at least 20,000," and people have to "question if it really was that good of an idea." Topkin: "Certainly if it is worth trying again, as they're considering." Playing the doubleheader in exchange for getting today off "seemed like a good idea as Rays management got all the requisite approvals from MLB, the A's and their players." But as the date drew near, Rays players started "voicing concerns and objections, questioning the wisdom of having them deal with the physical and mental fatigue of playing twice in one day of their volition." One lesson could be in "getting the fans to buy more, cutting what might have been too high a price point, with the cheapest ticket $26." It was a "fun experience, certainly in the opener, with its '70s-retro theme." There was some "different stuff you could buy, such as TV dinner meal trays, concert tour-style T-shirts, and beer during the final innings of the opener" (TAMPABAY.com, 6/10). In Tampa, Tom Jones wrote his only question was when the Rays are "going to do it again." It "felt like the 1970's all over again." That is what made Saturday "so special." Jones: "Kudos to the Rays for trying to create buzz for a team and a sport that could use it. Shame on any player who can't see that" (TAMPABAY.com, 6/10).
LONG TIME COMING: In Tampa, Martin Fennelly wrote the "idea for 'Banner Day,' and this doubleheader," came from Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg, who "grew up going to Banner Day doubleheaders" at the Mets' Shea Stadium (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/11). In N.Y., Pat Borzi noted this was "just the second time" since '04 that a team "began the season with a single-admission doubleheader on its schedule." Rays President Brian Auld said, "We've wanted to do this for a long time." He remembered attending doubleheaders as a child, an experience he called "about as cool a thing as a young fan could want." Auld last week said that the club had "sold 15,000 advance tickets for Saturday and hoped for a brisk walk-up sale." Auld said that the club would also "relax its ballpark re-entry policy, allowing fans to come and go during the day" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/10).
