Have you ever been to tropicana field? It really is not that bad of a venue. It puts the saddledome to shame that is for sure. It is nowhere near quality like any of the newer ball parks but it isn't that bad.
You keep bringing up that the team can't get fans to games until the playoffs and yet you are a flames fan! Everyone gave up on this team until they made a playoff run. In hockey that playoff run lasts significantly longer then baseball and can draw more fans in. Plus we have disposable income here. It is a tough times in Florida.
The Marlins had an issue with fans going to playoff games when they won it all as well. Florida is a weird sports market. That may change with their fancy new ball park and hopefully it does because it would give Rays owners more knowledge on what to expect if they can get a new park done.
Florida isn't a weird sports market, it's a bad sports market. The Flames had issues drawing fans after a decade of being terrible, the Rays have issues drawing fans the year after going to the world series. See the difference?
And seriously, how can you sit there with a straight face and argue that the problem is ability to get to the stadium on one hand and call for a sellout to a playoff game on the other. The issue isn't location, it's people giving a damn.
All I know is that Tampa's good team is wasted on that fan base. You should be all for them relocating, so you can cheer for them in a city that gives a crap.
The chance of them coming to Calgary is slim so unless they go to Orlando, LA, Or San Diago or Vancouver, Tampa is the cheapest place to fly and visit. Plus I don't need hotel accommodations when I go to Tampa which makes it a cheaper trip.
Florida isn't a weird sports market, it's a bad sports market. The Flames had issues drawing fans after a decade of being terrible, the Rays have issues drawing fans the year after going to the world series. See the difference?
And seriously, how can you sit there with a straight face and argue that the problem is ability to get to the stadium on one hand and call for a sellout to a playoff game on the other. The issue isn't location, it's people giving a damn.
It is location. Why would a fan bust their arse to get to a game when there are 80+ more for them to go to. Playoffs there is a chance of only 1 or 2 games so those fans will do what they have to to get to the game
It is location. Why would a fan bust their arse to get to a game when there are 80+ more for them to go to. Playoffs there is a chance of only 1 or 2 games so those fans will do what they have to to get to the game
So what you're saying is they don't care unless it's a playoff game. Good. Glad we agree on that. Quite the passionate fan base there.
I am sure they do care but it is VERY!!! hard to get to the stadium for 7 pm game time on a week day if you work in downtown Tampa.
Instead of making claims about everything why don't you go to Tampa and experience a game first hand? Go to Fergs before and see the "not passionate fans" Go tailgate and cook up some meat and play games. Go inside the trop and actually see the facility instead of claiming it is a huge dump.
But you would rather just sit behind a computer and sulk because your team doesn't make it into the playoffs and Tampa doesn't deserve to have a good team because fans don't care.
I am sure they do care but it is VERY!!! hard to get to the stadium for 7 pm game time on a week day if you work in downtown Tampa.
Instead of making claims about everything why don't you go to Tampa and experience a game first hand? Go to Fergs before and see the "not passionate fans" Go tailgate and cook up some meat and play games. Go inside the trop and actually see the facility instead of claiming it is a huge dump.
But you would rather just sit behind a computer and sulk because your team doesn't make it into the playoffs and Tampa doesn't deserve to have a good team because fans don't care.
If it's true that the Sox are letting Francona go, I think they'll realize pretty quickly what a bad move that would be. Teams are going to be lining up for the guy. His team may have melted down in the last month, but there's no way he should be the fall guy.
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It does seem a bit rash to put this on Francona. Did he tell Jon Lester to choke in September, or Josh Beckett to be ineffective? Was he the guy who messed up Clay Buchholz's back leaving the Sox rotation woefully thin? Is he supposed to pull a 20 million dollar player that his GM signed out of the game in the 9th inning, or better not play him at all?
Seems to me that there's others who should deserve the blame before Francona in that melt down.
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