It's A Small World: Fewer Fans Attend Rays' Disney Opener Than '07

The Rays last night at Champion Stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando defeated the Blue Jays 6-4 in front of 8,269 fans in the first game of a three-game series designed to "increase [the Rays'] visibility in the region," according to Joe Smith of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. Rays manager Joe Maddon: "I think the fans are really into it; I'd like to see a few more show up. We had a couple green seats out there. Let's put some fannies in those seats, that'd be kind of nice." Smith writes the "lively crowd, including many youngsters lining the leftfield berm, was a welcome sight for the Rays" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 4/23). In Orlando, Josh Robbins reports the fourth regular-season MLB game in Central Florida history "picked up where last year's Rays Disney series left off, with an energetic crowd that did not fill Champion Stadium." The Rays drew 174 fewer fans for this year's opener at Disney than in '07, despite Game Two of the Raptors-Magic NBA Playoffs series taking place in nearby Amway Arena. Rays President Matt Silverman: "The schedule isn't ideal. But for us, it's about the exposure and the interest that we're generating. Having other events that might be coinciding with this is just good, healthy competition." Robbins notes Rays officials soon will "pour over the data from ticket sales and fan surveys." Robbins: "But if the first night of this three-game series is any indication, the executives might not like everything they see. For every Orlando-area family ... it seemed like a corresponding group came in from out of town." Rays officials "no doubt appreciate the out-of-towners' business, but the team's primary reason for returning to Central Florida is to build its fan base in the region" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/23).

NO PROGRESS AT HOME: In St. Petersburg, John Romano writes attendance this season for Rays games "has been a disappointment. Maybe even a major disappointment." While the Rays have increased their payroll 81.7% to $43.8M, attendance through the first 11 home games is up just 3.4%. Romano: "Somewhere, there is a disconnect. ... If [a new] stadium does not get built, it should come as no surprise when the Rays begin listening to offers from other communities" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 4/23).

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