For all the years I lived in Florida, I was saddened at how lousy a sports town Tampa was. Even when the Rays or the Lightning were having great seasons and in the playoffs, you couldn’t fill the stadium or the arena. ( We won’t even talk about the Bucs ! ) I grant you that exorbitant ticket prices and concessions have something to do with it – but not everything.Jerry Colangelo could fill the stadiums and arenas for his sports teams in Phoenix. People would drive hundreds of miles to go to a Suns or a Diamondbacks game. Even the arena soccer team drew great houses. Most Arizonians, when I lived there, hated ( and still do ) Bill Bidwill and resented the Cardinals coming to town, as they wanted a team to call their own. That said, they filled the stadium – sometimes with more fans of the opposing team. Phoenix, which is another retirement area is a great sports town.It isn’t always fickle fans. Lord knows how many decades loyal Cubs and Red Sox fans filled Wrigley and Fenway, no matter how dismal the season.
Don’t feel all pregnant there Linguist. I was living in Scottsdale when the Cardinals franchise started. Native if Miami, moved out west for two years. Always a Dolphins fan.There was no pro football team back then until the latter part of my last year there. I was happy to watch ASU on Saturdays (couldn’t get UM there) and Dolphins on Sunday.And the only cardinals I ever knew was the St. Louis baseball team when I was a kid back in 1969, or thereabouts.Back in Miami, got the Heat (great!), Marlins suck, again this year, Dolphins are promising at 3-0 against N.O. tomorrow. U.M. still gets burned in football ratings even though they are dominant this season, no losses. What is this 14 rank?I don’t know where ASU stands anymore since I follow local.
Linguist about 11 years ago
Kind of like the Tampa Bay Rays – and they’re winning !
theorgandude about 11 years ago
Just move to Jacksonville and Tampa Bay to sit in empty football stadiums for the season.
loner34 about 11 years ago
I feel your pain… I’m a Royals fan, just wait till “next year”.
Godfreydaniel about 11 years ago
Also a Royals fan, and been waiting ‘til next year for bleedin’ forever! Today’s Tank was very very snarky but also very very funny.
biz.gocomics about 11 years ago
All I can say is, as a Mariners fan, thank goodness the Astros are now in the same division, cushioning us before we hit the basement.
Mel-T-Pass Premium Member about 11 years ago
The Astros outdrew the Rays.
Linguist about 11 years ago
For all the years I lived in Florida, I was saddened at how lousy a sports town Tampa was. Even when the Rays or the Lightning were having great seasons and in the playoffs, you couldn’t fill the stadium or the arena. ( We won’t even talk about the Bucs ! ) I grant you that exorbitant ticket prices and concessions have something to do with it – but not everything.Jerry Colangelo could fill the stadiums and arenas for his sports teams in Phoenix. People would drive hundreds of miles to go to a Suns or a Diamondbacks game. Even the arena soccer team drew great houses. Most Arizonians, when I lived there, hated ( and still do ) Bill Bidwill and resented the Cardinals coming to town, as they wanted a team to call their own. That said, they filled the stadium – sometimes with more fans of the opposing team. Phoenix, which is another retirement area is a great sports town.It isn’t always fickle fans. Lord knows how many decades loyal Cubs and Red Sox fans filled Wrigley and Fenway, no matter how dismal the season.
chefsven about 11 years ago
Don’t feel all pregnant there Linguist. I was living in Scottsdale when the Cardinals franchise started. Native if Miami, moved out west for two years. Always a Dolphins fan.There was no pro football team back then until the latter part of my last year there. I was happy to watch ASU on Saturdays (couldn’t get UM there) and Dolphins on Sunday.And the only cardinals I ever knew was the St. Louis baseball team when I was a kid back in 1969, or thereabouts.Back in Miami, got the Heat (great!), Marlins suck, again this year, Dolphins are promising at 3-0 against N.O. tomorrow. U.M. still gets burned in football ratings even though they are dominant this season, no losses. What is this 14 rank?I don’t know where ASU stands anymore since I follow local.