[chipper4president]

Can't stand the Red Sox so I am very happy Tampa made it into the playoffs over them but why continue to keep that team in Tampa when the people down there just don't care? The attendance is pathetic and they don't deserve a team IMO

I agree. We had a team, the Braves, before the Rays ever came into town. There were tons of other fans down that way as well (Red Sox, Reds, Yankees). Most people aren't going to quit being a fan of their team just because there is a new kid in town. I think it will take winning a world series before many of the folks take notice and show support. When the lightening came, hockey was a foreign concept to most of us. They didn't have much of a following except with transplants and snow birds. After they won the Stanley Cup everyone was on the bandwagon though.

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rays: again, location and venue play a huge part

fact is this: baseball is a year round thing in florida, what with spring training. most folks are from somewhere else (same problem the nats have), so there is no loyalty to the teams. whereas philly and boston are absolute sports town - the city revolves around iot as a primary form of entertainment - floridians have other options, and sports arent necessarily the first, second or third option

get good owners, better locations...fans will come

I agree. Loyalty remains with the teams that they were fans of before they moved to Florida or before the Rays existed. I grew up with the Bucs, college football, and the braves. However, I know people that were loyal to baseball only through a team they saw in spring training and people that had no interest at all.