Tea-leaf readers among us are always looking for signs of what may happen in St. Petersburg with the Rays and their ongoing stadium saga. For example, could a city council that equates workshops with decision-making be changing its MO? After all, it recently–finally–approved a new Pier design. Could a stadium-lease epiphany be next?
OK, that’s a reach. But nothing says the status quo can’t endure much longer better than abysmal Rays’ attendance.
Time was when at least the Red Sox and the Yankees were big draws, even if half the house were loyalist louts rooting loudly for Boston and New York. Even that dynamic has largely disappeared. In early season visits, both teams have played to more than half-empty houses. In fact, the Yankees barely hit five figures last week when their series opener with the Rays drew all of 10,619. The next night was less.
It’s one thing for Rays fans to stay away in droves; it’s what they do. But now even Red Sox and Yankee fans are no-shows.