Tropicana Field is staying open for the World Series, even as the Rays begin the title matchup on the road at Milwaukee’s American Family Field.
The club will turn The Trop into a gathering spot for fans during the first two games of the series, and the watch-party setup is set to continue if the matchup stretches to Games 6 and 7. With Games 3, 4 and 5 scheduled to be played in St.
Pete, the ballpark will already have a major role in the series. For now, fans can still head there to catch the opener and the next night’s game together.
Admission for the watch parties is $10, with parking priced at $5.
There are also two upgraded options. A $35 ticket gets fans into the Rays Hall of Fame Bar & Grill with all-you-can-eat food. A $60 ticket opens access to 162 Landing and includes a buffet of ballpark fare, plus soda, seltzers, beer and wine.
Tickets and prepaid parking are available online.
The watch party dates and game-night details are set for Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24, both against the Milwaukee Brewers. First pitch is at 8 p.m., and gates open at 7 p.m. Fans can park in Lot 6 or Lot 7 and enter through Gate 1.
If the series continues, the same arrangement will be in place for Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31.
Those games, if necessary, also have first pitch at 8 p.m., with gates opening at 7 p.m. Parking remains in Lot 6 or Lot 7, with entry at Gate 1.
In Other News...
Rays Payroll Debate Just Got Harder To Ignore
The payroll conversation around the Rays has only gotten louder because the gap between Tampa Bay and the leagues heavy spenders keeps showing up in the standings and in October. The Brewers sit in the middle of the pack by comparison, but both clubs are still built around value, with most of the roster coming through on bargain contracts rather than the kind of high-priced core that has defined recent World Series winners.
For Tampa Bay, that model is still the defining feature of the roster, and it is easy to see why the debate keeps coming back whenever the playoff field gets smaller and the richest clubs remain in it. The Rays have been able to stay competitive by squeezing production from young, inexpensive talent and maximizing every dollar, but the broader question is whether that approach can keep matching up against teams that can simply absorb mistakes and add more impact talent when they need it. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Face A World Series Problem Their Speed May Not Solve
The Rays have made speed part of their identity all season, and that has carried straight into October. Tampa Bay and Milwaukee both pushed the running game to the front of the scouting report during the regular season, finishing first and second in stolen bases, and neither club has backed off in the playoffs. It figures to be one of the most interesting subplots of the World Series, especially with the Rays trying to use quickness as a way to create pressure in a matchup where every extra base can matter.
Chandler Simpson has been a central figure in that approach, giving Tampa Bay a true threat once he reaches. The bigger question is whether the Rays can also handle the other side of the equation, because Milwaukee comes in with a reputation for controlling the running game better than almost anyone. If Tampa Bay cannot keep that from becoming a factor, the Series may end up turning on whether its speed can create enough chaos to offset what the Brewers do best. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Fans Heading To The World Series Face A Brutal Parking Problem
With the World Series landing at Tropicana Field, the biggest headache for fans may not be inside the ballpark but outside it. Parking and transportation are expected to be a problem with large crowds converging on St. Petersburg, and local transportation companies say demand is already rising as they get ready for the event.
St. Pete Police are urging attendees to plan ahead and look at alternative ways to get there rather than counting on a simple drive-and-park routine. The advice is straightforward: give yourself extra time, consider rideshare or other transit options, and think about a drop-off plan before heading out, because getting in and out of the area is likely to be the part of the trip no one remembers fondly. [Read more 🡒]