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Batter up: The Tampa Bay Rays 2024 season is here

From promos to concerts, we’re getting hyped for a long summer of Tampa Bay baseball.

Picture of Tropicana Field before a game starts from behind home plate. There are still empty seats before the crowds arrive, the floodlights are on and the grounds crew are working on the field.

Take me out to the ball game.

Photo via TBAYtoday

Happy opening day, sports fans. The Rays kick off their 2024 MLB season today against the Blue Jays.

There’s still some tickets left to today’s game or you can stream online on Bally Sports — the first pitch is set for 4:10 p.m.

Remember last year’s glorious 13-game win streak to start off the season? Here’s hoping this season starts off just as strong.

Stadium deal updates

  • While the City of St. Petersburg, the Rays, and Pinellas County unveiled plans for a new stadium last year, the project still requires a vote from the St. Petersburg City Council and the Pinellas County Commission. Listen to Florida Matters delve into the ongoing process.
  • Part of the new stadium deal also includes a plan for the team to don St. Petersburg-branded uniforms for at least one home game per season.

Special events

  • Ready to rock out on the field? This year’s Rays Concert Series lineup features Jimmy Eat World on Friday, July 26, Riley Green on Saturday, August 10, and T-Pain on Friday, August 16. Buy tickets to your game of choice and stay after for the on-the-field tunes.

Brand-new eats

  • You can now grab your fave treats from Cookie Fueled Mama and Chicken Salad Chick at their new dedicated locations in the ballpark.
  • The Budweiser Porch is introducing a “Twisted” booth, serving all kinds of pretzel-themed eats — including the footlong pretzel dog.
  • This season, if the Rays score a run in the third inning, fans also score a free order of Culver’s Wisconsin Cheese Curds — just plug in the promo code provided on Culver’s mobile app.
A dress form with a Tampa Bay Rays-themed Hawaiian shirt, Pride-themed Rays jersey, Rays-themed pickleball paddle, Rays ballcaps, and a Rays straw hat sit on a table.

The Rays are offering a slew of promo items this season.

Photo via Tampa Bay Rays

Promotions

Editor’s note: For the full list of promos, check the Rays’ website.

  • There’s a smattering of “Devil Rays Days” — in which the boys wear their throwback jerseys — booked for throughout the season, plus themed days like “Star Wars,” Fitness, Pride, Margaritaville.
  • On Sunday, April 14 the team will give out a Dave Wills Tropical Shirt to the first 12,000 fans in honor of the late longtime Rays broadcaster, who passed away last year.
  • Take your pup to the park for Dog Day, also booked for Sunday, April 14. This game requires a special ticket, which gets you + Fido access to the party deck and a dog-themed item.

Tropicana Field update

  • Does the Trop’s turf look a little more like real grass? That’s because the team just installed new turf made out of coconut husk and crushed walnut shells. Plus, 75,000 sqft of the old turf went to places around the City of St. Petersburg + Hillsborough County for soccer fields and batting cages.
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