Rays Return To Tropicana Field For A Three-Team, Nine-Game Homestand

The Tampa Bay Rays return to Tropicana Field on Friday for a three-team, nine-game homestand against the Baltimore Orioles (August 9-11), Houston Astros (August 12-14) and Arizona Diamondbacks (August 16-18). This will be the Rays third of four series against Baltimore, followed by the final series against Houston this year. The series against the Diamondbacks will be the only series opposite Arizona this season. The Rays 2024 season is presented by Orlando Health.

Friday, August 9 vs. Baltimore Orioles

• First Pitch: 6:50 p.m.
• Gates Open: 5:20 p.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Sebring High School JROTC
• National Anthem: Performed by Stacy Jo Conner, Cory Woomert and Karin Overholt with ASL by Nancy Russell
• Pregame Presentation: Budweiser and Great Bay Distributors will present Folds of Honor with a $5,000 check in honor of continuing their 14-year partnership with the organization. Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization that helps provide the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders with educational scholarships.
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by Urban-Cuban musical artist, El Chacal
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Thrown by MaintenX representative, Patrick O’Hara
• Promotion: Flappy Boi Zip-Up Hoodie presented by Spectrum to the first 12,000 fans
• Devil Rays Day: The Rays will sport their Devil Rays throwback uniforms.
• In-Game Presentation: The Rays Baseball Foundation will present Frameworks of Tampa Bay with a $10,000 grant. Frameworks of Tampa Bay is dedicated to equipping all children in the community with the skills to become kind, collaborative and capable citizens.
• Cuban Heritage Ticket Package – Sold Out: In celebration of Cuban heritage, the Rays will host a pregame party in Lower Ballpark & Rec open to all fans. In addition, a variety of discounted food and beverage specials will be available, including $5 Palma (SipShine Bar) and Heritage milkshakes (Epic Milkshakes, section 107). Fans who purchased the sold out special Cuban Heritage Ticket Package will receive a limited-edition hat and a seat in the Lower Reserved.
• Concessions and Merchandise Specials: 90s-themed snacks and beverages are available at the Viva Tequila Seltzer Grab N’ Go (behind center field) and at the Bird & Batter Express location (in right field), on all Friday Devil Rays Days.
• Pete’s Sneaks: Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks, along with several other Rays players, will donate sneakers to students in the Starting Right, Now program. The students will attend batting practice, where they will receive the sneakers and meet the players who purchased the shoes specifically for each student. Starting Right, Now?empowers unaccompanied homeless youth to become self-sufficient citizens, breaking the cycle of generational homelessness and poverty.
• Postgame Happy Hour: Following a Rays win on Friday and Saturday home games, fans can enjoy discounted beverages at Lower Ballpark & Rec after the game.

Saturday, August 10 vs. Baltimore Orioles

• First Pitch: 7:15 p.m.
• Gates Open: 5:15 p.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Newsome High School JROTC
• National Anthem: Performed by Aubrey Wollett with ASL by Tess Crowder
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by University of South Florida head baseball coach, Mitch Hannahs
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by Olympic skateboarder and Florida native, Jake Ilardi
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Thrown by country music artist, Riley Green
• Nike City Connect: The Rays will sport their Grit x Glow uniforms.
• In-Game Presentation: The Rays Baseball Foundation will present Community Tampa Bay with a $20,000 grant. The mission of Community Tampa Bay is to cultivate inclusive leaders to change communities through dialogue and cross-cultural interaction.
• In-Game Presentation: The Rays Baseball Foundation will present Mental Health for Heroes with a $50,000 grant. Mental Health for Heroes is dedicated to providing mental health services to the frontline heroes of Pinellas County, including law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics.
• University of South Florida Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special University of South Florida Ticket Package for Saturday’s game that includes a limited-edition hat and a seat in the Lower Level.
• Country Ticket Package – Sold Out: Fans who purchased the special Country Ticket Package will receive a limited-edition cowboy hat and a seat in the Lower Reserved.
• Skate Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special Skate Ticket Package for Saturday’s game that includes a limited-edition City Connect t-shirt and a seat in the Lower Level. Also included with purchase is an exclusive early access experience to watch a skate demonstration by Nike SB athletes Jake Anderson, Sean Malto, Eric Koston and professional skateboarder Jake Ilardi. For an additional purchase, fans can choose to upgrade their day at the ballpark with a meet and greet experience. Those who purchase the meet and greet add-on will receive access to a pregame meet and greet with the Nike SB athletes in attendance. A limited number of meet and greet tickets are available. A portion of all proceeds from the skate ticket packages will support Boards for Bros, a Tampa-based charity that brings free skateboards and skateboard instruction into underserved communities worldwide.
• Pitch Hit & Run: Prior to the game, the Rays will host Major League Baseball’s Pitch Hit & Run competition. Pitch Hit & Run is a free event that provides boys and girls ages 7 to 14 an opportunity to showcase their baseball and softball skills. Saturday’s event serves as the Tampa Bay region’s Team Championship, with participants advancing from previous rounds held around Florida. The top scorers will automatically qualify for a chance to compete at Finals, which is hosted at the World Series.
• Rays on the Runway: The Rays will host a special meet and greet during Saturday’s batting practice. Players participating in Rays on the Runway, a one-of-a-kind fashion show fundraiser supporting the Children’s Dream Fund, will have a chance to meet the children who will join them on the runway. The fundraising event returns for the first time since 2019 on Thursday, August 15 at Power Design in St. Petersburg. Rays players and their significant others will walk the fashion runway with “Dream Children” from the Children’s Dream Fund to make dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses. Event doors open at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the Children’s Dream Fund, a local nonprofit organization that makes dreams come true for seriously-ill children living in West Central Florida. For more information, visit childrensdreamfund.org.
• Rays Concert Series – Riley Green: Following the game on Saturday, the Rays will continue the Rays Concert Series with country artist Riley Green. All fans with tickets to the game are welcome to stay and watch the concert. Field access wristbands for Riley Green are sold out. Fans who purchased field access wristbands can pick them up by Gate 3 Guest Services.

Sunday, August 11 vs. Baltimore Orioles

• First Pitch: 1:40 p.m.
• Gates Open: 11:40 a.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Jewish War Veterans
• National Anthem: Performed by Pamela Ward with ASL by Hailey Riggs
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by Melissa Finley Williams
• Promotion: Kids Eat Free Vouchers good for a hot dog, chips and a drink to the first 5,000 fans, 14-and-under.
• In-Game Presentation: The Rays Baseball Foundation will present St. Vincent de Paul CARES with a $10,000 grant. St. Vincent de Paul CARES is a non-profit organization committed to ending homelessness.
• In-Game Presentation: The Rays Baseball Foundation will recognize the Rays Season Members who chose to donate their Season Member Gift back to the foundation. Season Member Gift donations totaled over $7,000.
• Jewish Community Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special Jewish Community Ticket Package for Sunday’s game that includes a limited-edition hat and a seat in the Lower Level. In addition, a variety of discounted food and beverage specials will be available, including $5 Kosher-certified beer and Kosher hot dogs (Budweiser Grill, section 127), and Heritage milkshakes (Epic Milkshakes, section 107).
• Salute to Service: Military, first responders and teachers are eligible to receive 40 percent off tickets for Sunday’s game. For more information or to sign up to receive these offers, please visit www.raysbaseball.com/salute.
• For the Kids: On Sundays, there’s even more fun for the kids! Kids can line up by the first-base line from 12-12:30 p.m. for Rays player autographs. A select group of children will have the opportunity to go on the field and stand next to their favorite Rays player during the National Anthem. After the game, all kids can run the bases. Follow instructions on the video board to find out where to line up to enter the field.

Monday, August 12 vs. Houston Astros

• First Pitch: 6:50 p.m.
• Gates Open: 5:20 p.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Northeast High School JROTC
• National Anthem: Performed by Francesca Tarantino with ASL by Calen Crowder
• Pregame Presentation: CEO of the Hunger Thirst Group, Stephen Schrutt, will donate $5,000 to the Children's Dream Fund. Hunger Thirst Group owns and operates several entertainment venues in the community.
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by former Dreamer from the Children’s Dream Fund, Natalie Warner
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Thrown by The Baldwin Group representative, Dan Galbraith
• Magic Monday: A League of their Own, a local baseball league for individuals with unique abilities, will join Rays players on the field for batting practice and serve as honorary coaches during the singing of the National Anthem.
• City Connect Skateboard Donation: In partnership with Boards for Bros., the Rays will welcome students at Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg back to school with a donation of 150 skateboards. The skateboards, which were built by Rays staff members, will be delivered to the students at St. Petersburg Regional Skatepark (600 12th St S., St. Petersburg) from 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. In addition to each student receiving a skateboard, they’ll receive safety equipment, an opportunity to decorate and customize their new skateboard and a skateboarding lesson from a Boards for Bros. or Girls Sk8 volunteer. For questions and interview requests, email De Anna Sheffield Ward at dward@raysbaseball.com.
• Rays Families: The Rays Families will participate in the Prom Series annual back-to-school donation drive, donating and packing back-to-school outfits for girls in foster care with the nonprofit organization, A Kid’s Place.

Tuesday, August 13 vs. Houston Astros

• First Pitch: 6:50 p.m.
• Gates Open: 5:20 p.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Knights of Columbus
• National Anthem: Performed by Cierra Reynolds with ASL by Corie Canny
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by Rick Todd
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Thrown by Tuesday’s Champion, Madden
• Salute to Service: Military, first responders and teachers are eligible to receive two complimentary tickets in the Lower Reserved for Tuesday’s game. For more information or to sign up to receive these offers, please visit www.raysbaseball.com/salute.
• Tuesday’s Champion: Before every Tuesday home game, the Rays recognize a child from the Make-A-Wish Foundation or the Children’s Dream Fund as part of the Tuesday’s Champion program, presented by RIPA & Associates. The Rays will host twelve-year-old Madden from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As part of Madden’s special day as Tuesday’s Champion, he will meet Rays players and throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Madden has Jeune’s Syndrome, autism, ADHD, thoracic insufficiency and scoliosis. He is a master Lego builder and his favorite player is Pete Fairbanks.

Wednesday, August 14 vs. Houston Astros

• First Pitch: 6:50 p.m.
• Gates Open: 5:20 p.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Richard Spoto High School Navy JROTC
• National Anthem: Performed by Marissa Nicole Koch with ASL by Lauren Chisholm
• Pregame Presentation: Rays player Richie Palacios will be recognized as the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) 2024 Rays recipient of the Heart and Hustle Award, chosen based on a player’s passion, desire and work ethic both on and off the field. One player from each team is selected based on the MLBPAA vote, with an overall winner crowned after the season from the pool of 30 honorees.
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by representative of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, Kirpa Johal
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Thrown by professional motocross and supercross racer, RJ Hampshire
• Panamanian Heritage Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special Panamanian Heritage Ticket Package that includes a limited-edition hat and a seat in the Lower Box. In celebration of Panamanian heritage, the Rays will host a pregame party in Lower Ballpark & Rec open to all fans. In addition, a variety of discounted food and beverage specials will be available, including $5 Corona and Modelo beers (Corona Cart, 1^st Base Food Hall) and Heritage milkshakes (Epic Milkshakes, section 107).

Friday, August 16 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

• First Pitch: 6:50 p.m.
• Gates Open: 5:20 p.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Alonso High School JROTC
• National Anthem: Performed by Amillia Samuels with ASL by Nancy Russell
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by Puerto Rican Heritage Night representative, Mariela Vallines
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Thrown by Vice President, Orlando Health Puerto Rico/Caribbean Region, Omar Gonzalez
• Promotion: Devil Rays Sherpa Bucket Hat presented by the Florida Department of Transportation to the first 12,000 fans
• Devil Rays Day: The Rays will sport their Devil Rays throwback uniforms.
• In-Game Presentation: The Rays Baseball Foundation will present Positive Coaching Alliance - Tampa Bay (PCA) with a $30,000 grant. PCA’s mission is to change the culture of youth sports so that every child, regardless of social or economic circumstance, has access to a positive youth sports experience.
• Salute to Service: Military, first responders and teachers are eligible to receive 25 percent off tickets for Friday’s game. For more information or to sign up to receive these offers, please visit www.raysbaseball.com/salute.
• Concessions and Merchandise Specials: 90s-themed snacks and beverages are available at the Viva Tequila Seltzer Grab N’ Go (behind center field) and at the Bird & Batter Express location (in right field), on all Friday Devil Rays Days.
• Puerto Rican Heritage Ticket Package – Sold Out: In celebration of Puerto Rican heritage, the Rays will host a pregame party in Lower Ballpark & Rec open to all fans. In addition, a variety of discounted food and beverage specials will be available, including $5 Medalla and Medalla Light (SipShine Bar) and Heritage milkshakes (Epic Milkshakes, section 107). Fans who purchased the sold out special Puerto Rican Heritage Ticket Package will receive a limited-edition replica jersey and a seat in the Lower Level.
• Rays Concert Series – T-Pain: Following the game on Friday, the Rays will conclude the Rays Concert Series with hip-hop artist T-Pain. All fans with tickets to the game are welcome to stay and watch the concert. Fans who would like to upgrade their experience can purchase a wristband on the MLB Ballpark app to enjoy the concert from the field. Wristbands will be available for pickup by Gate 3 Guest Services.

Saturday, August 17 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

• First Pitch: 4:10 p.m.
• Gates Open: 2:10 p.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Kathleen High School JROTC
• National Anthem: Performed by Jennifer Barican with ASL by Nicole Washington
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by Quality Roofing, Inc. founder and president, Rick Jenkins
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Thrown by Chair of the St. Petersburg City Council, Deborah Figgs-Sanders
• In-Game Presentation: The Rays Baseball Foundation will present the Academy Prep Centers of Lakeland, St. Petersburg and Tampa with grants totaling $60,000 in support of student scholarships. Academy Prep Centers for Education inspire and empower students qualifying for need-based scholarships?to become future?community leaders through a rigorous middle school program?coupled with ongoing graduate support.
• Mystery Balls for BabyQuest Foundation: Rays infielder Brandon Lowe, and his wife, Madison, will host a mystery ball sale benefiting the BabyQuest Foundation. The mystery baseballs will be autographed by current Rays players and will be sold for $50 inside Gate 1 and Gate 3 at Tropicana Field starting at 2:10 p.m., while supplies last. BabyQuest Foundation provides financial assistance through fertility grants to those who cannot afford the high costs of procedures.
• Swim Day Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special Swim Day Ticket Package for Saturday’s game that includes a limited-edition swim cap or Rays hat and a seat in the Lower Reserved.
• Christian Faith Day Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special Christian Faith Day Ticket Package for Saturday’s game that includes a limited-edition hat and a seat in the Lower Level.
• Florida A&M University Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special Florida A&M University Ticket Package for Saturday’s game that includes a limited-edition hat and a seat in the Lower Box.
• Postgame Happy Hour: Following a Rays win on Friday and Saturday home games, fans can enjoy discounted beverages at Lower Ballpark & Rec after the game.

Sunday, August 18 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

• First Pitch: 1:40 p.m.
• Gates Open: 11:40 a.m.
• Color Guard: Presented by Imagine School North Port
• National Anthem: Performed by Marianne Cooper with ASL by Tess Crowder
• Rays First Pitch: Thrown by Florida Elks Day representative, Russ Smith
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Thrown by winner of the Tropicana’s “The Juice That Starts It All” Sweepstakes, Corky Richardson
• In-Game Presentation: The Rays Baseball Foundation will present Ronald McDonald House Tampa Bay with a $30,000 grant. Ronald McDonald House Tampa Bay?keeps families close to their?children while they?receive?lifesaving?treatment in local area hospitals.
• Dog Day Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special Dog Day Ticket Package that includes a Dog Day-themed gift and a seat in the MaintenX Party Deck. Each ticket is good for one adult owner and one dog.
• ZooTampa Ticket Package: Fans can purchase a special ZooTampa Ticket Package that includes a limited-edition Manny T. bobblehead and a seat in the Lower Reserved. A portion of all proceeds from the ZooTampa ticket package will support ZooTampa and their mission to protect and preserve wildlife and wild places.

Additional Homestand Notes:

• $10 Tickets: Available for every Rays regular season home game. $10 Tickets are non-transferable, and barcodes will be available two hours prior to first pitch. A maximum of six tickets per game, per household is available. All $10 tickets are based on availability for all Rays home games.
• 50/50 Charity Raffle: Support our community from Tropicana Field or at home while watching the game. As an early-bird special, fans receive two times the number of tickets for donations made before first pitch. For example, prior to first pitch fans can get 10 tickets for $10, 40 tickets for $20, 400 tickets for $50 and 998 tickets for $100. After first pitch, donation levels return to their standard amounts (5/$10, 20/$20, 200/$50, & 500/$100). 50/50 tickets can be obtained at Gate 3, Gate 5, the Budweiser Porch, online via Rays5050.com or with one of our roaming ambassadors.
• Budweiser Good Sport Designated Driver Program: Pledge to be a designated driver by abstaining from alcohol in the MLB Ballpark app. Show your confirmation email to a representative at Guest Services Gate 1 or 3. Each fan who pledges will receive a small cup good for a soda or water at Coca-Cola Refresh Stations. One winner each game will receive a Rays hat.
• Closed Captioning: New for the 2024 season, a closed-captioning feed is available for all Rays home games in the Ballpark app. Fans can simply select the “Closed Captioning” icon from the Helpful Links section on the Rays team page to see a captioning feed throughout the game.
• Culver’s Curds in the Third: If the Rays score a run in the third inning, fans score free Culver’s Wisconsin Cheese Curds. Offer is only valid the day after the game with an online purchase using the code CURDRUN.
• Every Hit is a Win: For every Rays hit, Suncoast Credit Union will donate $90 to a nonprofit in the community in honor of their 90th anniversary. Fans can vote on the nonprofit and keep track by clicking the link: https://www.suncoast.com/Promo/Every-Hit-is-a-Win.
• Experiences: Located at Gate 6, fans will notice Bat Around, a new addition this season. The game is fit for all ability levels and brings fun and competition in a new arcade-style batting cage. This new experience will allow fans to test their skills during their visit to Tropicana Field. The Rays are the first team in MLB with Bat Around.
• Kane’s Furniture 10K Promotion: If Rays pitchers strike out 10 batters during a home game, take your mobile ticket located in the Ballpark app or a print-at-home voucher to any Kane’s Furniture store within five days and receive a coupon for one Free Taco & Chips at participating area Tijuana Flats locations. Restrictions apply. For more information, visit KanesStrikeout.com.
• Mascot Race: Fans can guess the winner of the Mascot Race exclusively via the Ballpark app by selecting the “Mascot Race” tile on the Rays team page.
• MLB Ballpark App: Mobile ordering, seat upgrades, gameday experiences, digital tickets, parking passes, closed-captioning, gaming activations and more are all available within the Ballpark app. Discounts at retail, the ShortStop and Grab & Go can be accessed simply by tapping the “ShortStop Pay,” “Retail Pay” and “Grab & Go Pay” icons on the Rays team page.
• Mobile Ordering: Convenient mobile ordering is available for every game through the Rays team page within the Ballpark app. Click on the “Order Food + Drinks” tile to be directed to a page with all available pickup locations and dietary specific offerings.
• Papa John’s Rays 6 Promotion: If the Rays score six or more runs in either home or away games (win or lose), fans can receive 50 percent off their online pizza order the next day at PapaJohns.com or through the Papa John’s app.
• Prepaid Parking: To expedite entry into parking lots, fans are encouraged to prepay for parking. Prices vary by game date and parking lot. See RaysBaseball.com/Parking. Lots open three hours prior to first pitch.
• ProWire: New to the Rays as of July, fans will now be able to go on their MLB Ballpark App and select the "Rays Radio" icon from the Rays team page to utilize ProWire. ProWire offers a live audio feed of our Home Radio, Spanish Radio and public address feeds for fans to listen to directly from the Ballpark app while at Tropicana Field.
• Rays Rookies Kids Club: The Rays Rookies Kids Club presented by Suncoast Credit Union is back for the 2024 season. For $40, MVP members receive a free kid’s meal at every game, 50 percent off tickets for select home games, free admission to The Florida Aquarium, a duffel bag, a snapback hat and a Rays Rookies sticker set. All-Star memberships are available for free. For more information visit RaysBaseball.com/RaysRookies.
• Rays Touch Experience: The first of its kind at a professional sports venue, Rays Touch Experience is a 35-foot, 10,000-gallon exhibit located just beyond the right-center field fence at Tropicana Field. This unique and educational fan experience has been created through a partnership with The Florida Aquarium. The beautiful cownose stingrays are the same species that live in the waters of Tampa Bay and are cared for by the Florida Aquarium staff. A complete wellness program including a healthy diet, routine medical exams and behavioral observation is provided for the rays. Fans can visit when gates open to the top of the ninth inning (the tank will close at the top of each hour for 10 minutes to give the rays a touch break).
• Specialty Rooms: The Nursing Room is a private room for child caretaking behind home plate near the First Aid station. The Sensory Room is a safe space for anyone with sensory processing needs in Suite 45. It was designed in collaboration with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD).
• Upgrade Your Experience: Seat upgrades and gameday experiences are available for purchase for every game via the MLB Ballpark app. Fans can select the “Upgrade Your Experience” tile on the Rays team page to see available upgrades. Availability and pricing will vary by game. Experiences include The Baldwin Group Club access, Rays Radio Booth visits, Raymond Meet & Greets and Batting Practice passes. Additional experiences may be added throughout the season.