A pair of new studies have revealed a metaphorical and literal truth about the hunger Tampa Bay Rays fans have for the team’s return to Tropicana Field this year. The Rays enter this weekend not only leading the American League on the field, but also leading the entire MLB in attendance growth and eating the third most hot dogs in the Majors. Let me explain.
Let’s start with attendance. The Sports Business Journal released mid-season MLB attendance numbers over the All Star break, noting a 1.1% year-over-year increase in overall attendance. Broken down by team, the Rays are overwhelmingly leading the way with an astounding attendance growth of 70.9% compared to 2025. The next closest is the Chicago White Sox at +36.5%.
ADVERTISEMENT
Obviously, that comes with a major caveat. The Rays went from playing at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa last year (capacity 10,000) to the 25,000-seat Tropicana Field. But in the middle of last summer, the Rays weren’t even always filling up the roofless spring training stadium. Last weekend, the Rays had to open up the upper deck to accommodate massive crowds for Evan Longoria’s Hall of Fame festivities. Saturday and Sunday drew a reported attendance of 22,597 and 24,297, respectively.
At 16,835 fans per game so far in 2026, it’s also worth mentioning that the Rays are on track to out-draw their last season in The Trop, 2024, which saw 16,515 per game. Knock on wood, but a playoff run would only extend the gap, and at the midway point, no one in the AL has been better.
Now, let’s talk hot dogs. And beer, too, actually. This study is a bit more dubious, but according to research and polling by Action Network, Rays fans are No. 3 across Major League Baseball for hot dog consumption. The average Rays fan eats 1.7 hot dogs per game, according to their findings, with around one in eight Rays fans, or 12.6%, downing at least three glizzies a game.
On the surface, that sounds insane. If your friend left their seat three different times and came back with a mustard-soaked sausage dog every time, you would likely judge them. And hopefully, that judgement would result in a positive opinion.
However, one factor not only explains the hot dog uptick, but could also contribute to the attendance growth. The new MaintenX SkyDeck welcomes 2-3,000 fans every game for an experience where $49 gets you a seat for the game and unlimited beer, wine, soda and stadium food for the duration of events. Bottomless mimosas are out. Bottomless hot dogs are in.
While the other 14,000 people at the game likely settle somewhere in the healthier 0-1 hot dog range, a couple thousand people downing five wieners just to get their money’s worth more than make up for the difference.
We hope the Rays concessions team factored ketchup into their prices this year.
To round it out, that study also said Rays fans are averaging 3.2 alcoholic beverages per game, split into 1.2 drinks before first pitch and two drinks during the game. Depending on beer choice and how much relish you’re using, that’s an average of 990 calories of hot dogs and beer per Rays fan per game. Over the course of a full season of home games, the average Rays fan is – reportedly! – downing 80,190 calories of hot dogs and booze. That’s enough to make even the residents of Pawnee, Indiana blush.
All that said, one thing is clear between these reports of varying integrity: Rays fans are absolutely loving life at The Trop in 2026.
