The Tampa Bay Rays, who ranked next to last in the majors in attendance last season, are eliminating more than 10,000 seats in an effort to create a more “intimate” experience for fans at Tropicana Field.
The Rays on Friday said they would add a premium seating section in the lower level but would no longer seat fans in the upper deck, which would reduce capacity at the stadium to approximately 25,000 to 26,000.
“These renovations mark our continued commitment to providing a first-rate fan experience at Tropicana Field,” Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. “Together, in concert with the reduction in seating capacity, these investments will help create a more intimate, entertaining and appealing experience for our fans.”
Rays to close upper deck, reduce capacity to 26,000 https://t.co/JeKJ1eo4oq via @HardballTalk
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) January 4, 2019
The Rays averaged 14,258 fans last season, ranking ahead of only the Miami Marlins (10,013).
It was a 7.9 percent decline for the Rays, who have ranked last in attendance in all but two seasons since 2012.
Maybe baseball in Florida just doesn’t work.
Two teams in the Sunshine state with the lowest attendance?
Want More From Sports Gossip?
For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
