Why Rays Fans Didn't Sell Out the ALCS in Tampa Bay

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Unsold ALCS Seats Raise Questions About Tampa Bay’s Fan Base

Tampa Bay’s inability to sell more than 30,000 tickets for an American League Championship Series game has sparked concern. The Rays were only a couple of wins away from reaching the World Series, yet the stadium was not sold out.

Rays fans clearly love their team, but there is uncertainty about whether moving from Saint Pete to a new stadium near Raymond James would solve the attendance problem. Even if the Rays were competing for another World Series opportunity in four years, a new location might not guarantee a full stadium.

This issue is not unique to the Rays. Similar attendance questions surround the Marlins, Heat, Panthers and Magic. Even the Dolphins do not always fill their stadium. One possible factor is the expense of postseason tickets, particularly in Saint Pete. ALCS tickets cost significantly more than regular Rays tickets, although that alone does not fully explain the empty seats.

Another challenge is that many Florida residents originally came from somewhere else and already support teams connected to their families. Parents and grandparents pass down loyalties to teams such as the Yankees, Giants or Mets, making it difficult for Florida franchises to build the multigenerational fan bases associated with the Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies or Pirates.

Changing those loyalties requires younger generations to grow up supporting local teams. One example is a son raised as a Marlins fan because his father has followed the team for years and is involved with the organization. By contrast, a neighbor who grew up supporting the Mets later began rooting for the Astros because they were winning while the Marlins were not.

That raises the possibility that sustained success could persuade more fans to support local clubs. The Marlins are trying to establish that kind of connection, while the Rays have already produced years of winning. However, the Rays’ success still did not produce a sold-out ALCS crowd.

Despite the possible explanations, an unsold postseason game remains alarming. The expectation is that an NLCS game involving the Marlins would sell out, based on crowds seen for the World Baseball Classic and the World Series in Miami. If the Marlins were playing the Guardians or another opponent such as Arizona, tickets would be extremely difficult to obtain.