The Tampa Bay Rays haven’t won a World Series, but the celebration plans are already taking shape if they pull it off.
If the Rays bring the championship home, Tampa is preparing multiple parades, including another boat parade. The city is no stranger to that kind of scene.
Fans still remember the Buccaneers’ parade in February 2021, when a tipsy Tom Brady threw the Lombardi Trophy from his boat to the one behind him. The Tampa Bay Lightning also got a boat parade in July 2021 after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
There was no parade in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Petersburg is lining up a more traditional celebration, with a parade through the streets and fans gathered along the route.
Before any of that can happen, though, the Rays have plenty to handle on the field. They and the Milwaukee Brewers open their World Series chase in Game 1 on October 23, with both franchises still looking for their first title.
Games 1 and 2 are in Milwaukee on October 23 and 24, then the series shifts to Florida for Game 3 on October 26. The Rays would host Games 4 and 5 on October 27 and 28, before the matchup returns to Milwaukee for Games 6 and 7 if needed.
All World Series games will be televised on FOX.
The only team from Florida to win the World Series is the Florida, now Miami, Marlins, who did it in 1997 and 2003.
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 🡒]