Longo and Price publicly call out fans.
Longo spoke to the ST Pete Times and Price tweeted, though later apologized.
Yes, it’s understandable guys, that is much more fun to have a crowd, I feel the same. I was also there when we had about the same crowds for games as the Marlins do now and it is a whole lot more fun when you have more rabid Rays fans around you for hooting and hollering. Alot of us are frustrated that we can't go more.
However, there are three glaring differences I can name right off the bat from 2008 and 2010.
A) The economy is much worse. In fact just a couple of weeks ago there was a report in the same local paper about how TB has been one of the areas hit hardest, though of course not those of you that live in the mansions in Avila and Bayshore or the condos in Hyde Park and Reddington Beach.
B) Prices……….even with the economy, the ticket, concession and parking prices went up, when peoples' incomes, work hours or even in some cases jobs have cut back or are completely gone.
C) When the Rays clinched in 2008 it was a weekend,. Monday and now Tues. are weeknights, children are in school and the majority of people that do have jobs aren’t starting at 7 or 7:30 PM more like AM.
I am one of those in the minority of not begrudging the players for their salaries or the teams for their payrolls, teams will pay what they think is market value and players will try to get what they can, but I for one don’t think millionaires should then begrudge how others are spending their hard earned money in these times.
Thankfully, I am also one of the minority that doesn’t have to get kids off, or go to work during morning rush hour. I have a bit more “play” money and since I was off today and don’t go in early tomorrow I had already planned to be there tonight hoping it gets done. The majority though have bigger mortgages and families to juggle so calling them out for not spending close to $80 or a $100 just to walk through the gates of the Trop several nights a week is a bit unfair.
Maybe you guys could have a talk with Stu about that, ooooooooh that’s right, he is having to cut back on expenses next year since he doesn’t think he has any chance of winning the lottery by then, but I bet the prices won’t be cut in fact might actually be more. Wonder how many of his hobbies he has to cut back?
Sorry, no Evan on this subject, you are not the guy. David take heed that the first half of that website name is "twit".
Irony thy name is Rays.