The Rays for the fifth straight year "finished last" in MLB attendance in '16, a "systemic problem that has more to do with demographics in Florida than anything else," according to John Romano of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The Marlins have had the NL's "worst attendance in 11 of the past 12 years." But after "one disappointing attendance number on top of another, it gets harder and harder to imagine Rays owner Stuart Sternberg seeing salvation" in another St. Petersburg ballpark. Drawing fewer than half the fans of rival clubs is "not a winning formula moving forward." Teams that have "packed their belongings and moved miles down the road (the Marlins, Astros, Orioles, Tigers, Giants) all had more acute attendance problems and were seeking fresh starts." The Rays would be in that "fresh-start category, and that's why management's clear (if unstated) preference is downtown Tampa." But Romano noted Rays attendance "actually went up" 3.6% this season, "one of only five teams to have an attendance boost with a losing record." The Rays "are not in danger of leaving the market any time soon," but history can be "instructive and, in this case, it's suggesting that St. Pete needs to up its game if it doesn't want to lose the Rays to Tampa" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/4).
