Tuesday's record-low crowd at Tropicana Field came despite the Rays being second in the AL EastRAYS
The Rays' attendance woes continued last night, as the team's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays drew a crowd of just 5,786, the "smallest ever for a Rays game in 22 seasons at Tropicana Field" and the "lowest in the majors this season," according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The Rays have had "issues drawing fans this year like many others, but they never had a crowd this small." The team's previous low mark was 6,509 fans who came to a September '17 game as Hurricane Irma was approaching the region. Rays P Ryne Stanek said of the small crowd, "I definitely noticed it. ... It's tough, especially when we're playing well and we're playing a fun brand of baseball and it's fun to watch. We don't play boring games" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/29).
HITTING ROCK BOTTOM: In Toronto, Rob Longley writes it is "downright embarrassing" for the Rays, who at 33-19 are just a game out of the AL East lead, to draw such a small crowd (TORONTO SUN, 5/29). The TIMES' Topkin writes fans have given "all kinds of reasons and excuses, some valid, ... about why they don't come or why they think others don't come to Rays games," but there is "no excuse for the embarrassment" that was on display last night (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/29).
