Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Bigsmc
2. The location of the dome. It is in the heart of St. Pete and traffic can be difficult to get in and out. (I don't buy this one at all having attended games in other cities with way worse traffic problems) It is tough to go to a game, have it drag on for four hours and then drive for an hour and a half to get home and get up for work the next day.
|
Cannot agree more - getting there is impossible with out leaving at 4:30 for a 7:05 start, unless you take a half day vac and get there early enough to hang at Ferg's for a few hours. Getting home is better, but still at least an hour - hour and a half to most of the suburbia parts of Tampa - Brandon, Carrolwood/Northdale, New Tampa, Palm Harbor/Tarpon Springs, Trinity/NPR, etc.
Tampa residents get it the worse by having to traverse the bay by one of only two bridges that are an absolute cluster foxtrot at rush hour.
Zero public transportation, though as spread out as everything is it isn't viable anyway.
Matt has an excellent point as well - they are a new team in a city of transients who carry their loyalties with them. The Yankees have been here for ages in the spring and Steinbrenner has at least have the town named after him for his philanthropic endeavors. Doubt you will ever sway the local New York/Boston/Philly population to start donning Rays gear.
Hockey is the lone exception; the area flocked to the Lightning and even as horrid as they are, still draw a well defined local fan base.
30 years after the arrival of the Bucs, there is still a noticeable array of opposing team support each game - but it is no different than what you'd see in Carolina, Phoenix, Jacksonville, etc. where the teams were bought in to accomodate the growing population.
A new dome, more centrally located to the population that supports them, would go miles in garnering attendance - put it will never be NY, CHI, St.L or Boston.