Count'em in

Lot's and lot's of talk about the Jays this season and rightfully so. The team is off to an incredible start. A feat you wouldn't know if you paid strict attention to the bottom of the box score. Attendance at Rogers Centre has been disappointing. If the Jays stunk out the joint every night that would be one thing, but they've been terrific, exciting and promising in 2009. These are indicators you'd think would help pull'em in, instead crowds of 15, 16, 17 thousand are the norm in a facility that can accommodate almost three times that.

Small and fierce

While the Jays' home attendance is down comparable to this time last season, it appears there's also been a positive and surprising change to the slimmer crowds. Sparse they are, but so are they boisterous, louder and more involved. Attendance has gone down, the energy has gone up. The people who are buying tickets these days and actually using them have created an intimate, exciting atmosphere in a place typically known to be cavernous and quiet.

All for one

Its obvious, prospective supporters of a team need a reason to support. On the flip, their team gets paid whether people show up or not. It wins, it gets paid. It loses, it gets paid. And even if it plays in front of empty seats the cheques keep on coming. In a place like Toronto where baseball isn't in the locals' blood, the fans' return on the dollar comes in the form of a team to believe in. Today's Jays are definately that and many have already noticed and responded. The numbers in the stands at Rogers Centre certainly have room to grow but I'm telling you, all this team has to do is continue to show promise and the place will creep towards a full house. It could take all season to accomplish the challenge, but isn't that what the Jays are doing too? Trying to accomplish a feat they haven't in a long, long time? This team and its supporters can grow together. It's not the best policy ever, but it's something.

Keep it going

In the meantime, the good folks in the flesh will hopefully keep at their energetic best. Hey, with each Jays' win a new fan is created while another becomes interested again with both eventually adding their voices to that modest yet rabid following at Rogers Centre. Instead of dwelling on their small numbers let's embrace and believe in what today's Jays' crowds are: loyal, hungry, excited. And much like the team they support appear to be on the verge of something much, much bigger.