[The Fotski]

I was at Millers Restaurant, on US 27, for the clinching local Tampa Bay Rays baseball game on Monday night, where they advanced to the World Series. Millers have 51 large-screen TVs (I asked). The food is always dependable and reasonably priced. Daily dinner food specials. The barmaids are friendly. 30+ beer taps. The game was broadcast on TBS, a channel that many do not get on their home roof antenna. There were only 4 customers watching the game! Sad.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by The Fotski

I was at Millers Restaurant, on US 27, for the clinching local Tampa Bay Rays baseball game on Monday night, where they advanced to the World Series. Millers have 51 large-screen TVs (I asked). The food is always dependable and reasonably priced. Daily dinner food specials. The barmaids are friendly. 30+ beer taps. The game was broadcast on TBS, a channel that many do not get on their home roof antenna. There were only 4 customers watching the game! Sad.

Translation: At that particular sports bar at that particular time for that particular game the vast majority of patrons did not share one particular individual's enthusiasm.

[The Fotski]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Translation: At that particular sports bar at that particular time for that particular game the vast majority of patrons did not share one particular individual's enthusiasm.

Looks like you are being particularly particular.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by The Fotski

Looks like you are being particularly particular.

Follow up question: In a crowded sports bar with 51 TVs, how can any particular individual tell how many are watching a particular game???

[The Fotski]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Follow up question: In a crowded sports bar with 51 TVs, how can any particular individual tell how many are watching a particular game???

Ah, to elucidate on my original post. There were only four particular customers in the whole particular restaurant.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by The Fotski

Ah, to elucidate on my original post. There were only four particular customers in the whole particular restaurant.

Probably because most people were home watching the game on tv.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Probably because most people were home watching the game on tv.

Or sleeping, like me.

[The Fotski]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Probably because most people were home watching the game on tv.

Unfortunately, some residents are not affluent enough to afford a cable TV package. Fortunately, the World Series is on FOX, which I can get on my rooftop aerial.

For those who are in a more advantageous fortune situation and can afford cable subscriptions, I have a plethora of Beanie Babies and Pet Rocks I can fortunately offer at a reasonable price.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by The Fotski

I was at Millers Restaurant, on US 27, for the clinching local Tampa Bay Rays baseball game on Monday night, where they advanced to the World Series. Millers have 51 large-screen TVs (I asked). The food is always dependable and reasonably priced. Daily dinner food specials. The barmaids are friendly. 30+ beer taps. The game was broadcast on TBS, a channel that many do not get on their home roof antenna. There were only 4 customers watching the game! Sad.

Villagers come from all over and often continue to root for their former home team.

We are formerly from NY and will continue to root for NY teams and when they are not in the playoffs have little interest.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by The Fotski

I was at Millers Restaurant, on US 27, for the clinching local Tampa Bay Rays baseball game on Monday night, where they advanced to the World Series. Millers have 51 large-screen TVs (I asked). The food is always dependable and reasonably priced. Daily dinner food specials. The barmaids are friendly. 30+ beer taps. The game was broadcast on TBS, a channel that many do not get on their home roof antenna. There were only 4 customers watching the game! Sad.

Face it. The Rays aren't exactly a team that a lot of people get excited about. In 2025, playing their entire home season in a minor-league venue (George Steinbrenner Stadium) because Tropicana Field was being repaired, they sold out precisely 75% of the time--and George Steinbrenner Field seats only a paltry 11,076 at capacity. Even after moving back to Tropicana Field for 2026 the Rays managed precisely TWO sellouts so far: they sold out the home opener with 25,114 tickets sold, and then sold out the first game of the playoff series against the Yankees. A miserable record in a possibly-championship season, made even more miserable by the fact that Tropicana Field is the SMALLEST venue in major league baseball with a regular-season capacity of 25,114, and even at that small capacity the Rays managed an average per-game attendance of only 17,469 fans per game.

Yahoo (among others) had an article on Rays' attendance, citing it as "embarrassing". That, unfortunately, it is.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by The Fotski

I was at Millers Restaurant, on US 27, for the clinching local Tampa Bay Rays baseball game on Monday night, where they advanced to the World Series. Millers have 51 large-screen TVs (I asked). The food is always dependable and reasonably priced. Daily dinner food specials. The barmaids are friendly. 30+ beer taps. The game was broadcast on TBS, a channel that many do not get on their home roof antenna. There were only 4 customers watching the game! Sad.

I despise baseball. . too much standing around. .
I only watch if my home team are in any playoff games. .

Tampa Bay is not my home team.

I don't need to go to a bar to watch sports on TV, regardless of the socio economics of any other patron / resident in the villages. Even the sports watch parties at various bars around TV want payment for taking up their seats as they can't be profitable without food/drinks by patrons.

So enjoy the game in peace and quiet, and thankful you have a place to go and watch if you want.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by The Fotski

Unfortunately, some residents are not affluent enough to afford a cable TV package.

If people can afford to go out to a restaurant to watch a ballgame, you can most likely afford a basic cable subscription.

I figure that cable saves me money. If my wife and I stay home just two nights a month, instead of going out to a restaurant for dinner, we will save more than the monthly cable bill.

PS. My wife will be surprised to hear that people consider us affluent.

[CarlR33]

It was after happy hour? I know at Codys the place is like empty from packed after happy hour.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Face it. The Rays aren't exactly a team that a lot of people get excited about. In 2025, playing their entire home season in a minor-league venue (George Steinbrenner Stadium) because Tropicana Field was being repaired, they sold out precisely 75% of the time--and George Steinbrenner Field seats only a paltry 11,076 at capacity. Even after moving back to Tropicana Field for 2026 the Rays managed precisely TWO sellouts so far: they sold out the home opener with 25,114 tickets sold, and then sold out the first game of the playoff series against the Yankees. A miserable record in a possibly-championship season, made even more miserable by the fact that Tropicana Field is the SMALLEST venue in major league baseball with a regular-season capacity of 25,114, and even at that small capacity the Rays managed an average per-game attendance of only 17,469 fans per game.

Yahoo (among others) had an article on Rays' attendance, citing it as "embarrassing". That, unfortunately, it is.

Doesn't that only go to support the OP's opinion? The Rays played well throughout the season and very well in the playoffs yet attendance was low. I'm not a baseball fan so I wouldn't watch in any case but it's odd that there aren't more fans excited by the success of the local team.

Neither team playing this year has ever won a World Series, the first time this has occurred in 46 years. Congratulations to whichever team wins their first title.

EDIT: I haven't been to a Miller's in many years. If they have 31 taps they must have some good beer to try, I'll have to find my way up there sometime.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Neither team playing this year has ever won a World Series, the first time this has occurred in 46 years. Congratulations to whichever team wins their first title.

I had to double check this. You are correct! The Philadelphia Phillies played the Kansas City Royals in 1980. Neither team had ever won a world series championship. The Phillies started playing in 1883 and the Royals started playing in 1969. The Phillies won in 6 games.