In Chicago, Dan McGrath reported the White Sox on Saturday drew a "standing-room" crowd of 38,714 for former MLBer Paul Konerko’s No. 14 jersey retirement ceremony, which "nearly doubled their 19,686 per-game average." It also is another example of a "Konerko crowd." The final game at U.S. Cellular Field in '14, when Konerko was celebrated, drew a similar crowd of 38,160. The team has played 23 home games this season, and before Saturday they had drawn a larger crowd that the '14 finale just once -- 38,533 "for this year’s home opener." The White Sox "are 28th among 30 MLB teams in attendance this season" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/24).
NEEDING A SPARK: In Tampa, Sampson & McNeill note the Lightning's run to the NHL Eastern Conference Finals has been "troublesome for the Rays' attendance, which is perennially low even without head-to-head competition in their home territory." So far, the Rays and Lightning "have overlapped home games five times" during the NHL playoffs. The Rays drew more than 20,000 fans to Tropicana Field "only once during those five playoff games." They are "last in baseball with an average home attendance of 15,215," with Tropicana Field "considered sold out at more than twice that number" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/26).
MINNY HAPPY RETURNS SO FAR: In Minneapolis, Chip Scoggins writes the Twins, who are in second place in the AL Central with a 26-18 record, are "finally a fun team to watch again." Target Field is again a "destination to view competent baseball, not just a place to drink and socialize and soak up our beautiful summers." While fans in the Twin Cities "are conditioned to fear the worst," it is "just nice to go to the ballpark expecting to see a decent product again" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/26).
