Tampa Bay Rays Welcome Fans Back In Home Opener, 10-5 Win

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — It felt like a family reunion Friday at the Tampa Bay Rays' home opener against the New York Yankees. Fans and staff spent a year away from Tropicana Field due to the restrictions placed on ball game attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Fans wore Tampa Bay Rays jerseys, T-shirts and baseball caps as they trickled into the stadium from the parking lot. They were masked up and ready to Rays up; luckily the season-opener was a 10-5 win for the home team.

Longtime fans greeted fan host employees with shouts of excitement and hugs. Mascot Raymond walked around with a "Welcome Back" sign as about 9,000 fans walked to their assigned seats to watch the sold-out game. There were plenty of "Hey, it's so good to see you" exchanges heard around the ballpark.

Mike Coab, a longtime Rays fan, told Patch it was amazing to be there, and he wishes more people could attend games, but it's awesome to see the fans.

Before the start of the game, the American League Championship 2020 banner was unveiled with loud cheers from the fans as the Rays and Yankees stood on the baseline. The Tampa Bay Rays won the American League Division Series against the Yankees in 2020, and they beat the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.

Last season felt weird for not only the fans and players, but for the broadcasters, too. Steve Carney, a former WDAE host, said it was strange.

"You expect to see fans, and authentic baseball, and you got neither of them during the season. It was a very lonely feeling being in the press box," Carney told Patch. "It'll feel awesome when we get back closer to normal, but just the fact that there are 9,000 people in the building for opening day, it's almost indescribable. You don't realize how much you miss it."

Here's what you can expect at Tropicana Field in the 2021 baseball season as it tries to resemble what fans are used to:

• UV lights and specially designed electronic devices, called bi-polar ionization units, have been installed in air conditioning units at Tropicana Field. These devices break down a variety of harmful contaminants, including coronavirus.
• Air filters with a higher minimum efficiency reporting value rating, which more effectively trap small particles, have also been added throughout the ballpark.
• Tropicana Field undergoes enhanced cleaning and sanitization before, during, and after each game to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19.
• Fans are asked to practice frequent hand washing and use hand-sanitizing stations.
• Face masks must completely cover the nose and mouth and must always be worn except when actively eating or drinking in the fan’s ticketed seat.
• Gaiters, bandanas, masks with ventilation holes, and other versions of face coverings are not acceptable.

Social Distancing

• Capacity is reduced at Tropicana Field this year to allow for social distancing. No more than 9,000 fans are able to be in the stadium.
• Seating pods are staggered throughout the ballpark. Fans may sit only in their ticketed seats. Two to six people are allowed to sit in each pod.
• Eating and drinking will be permitted in fans’ ticketed seats only.

Cash-Free Ball Park

• Tropicana Field remains cash-free this season, allowing for less contact between fans and staff.

For the full list of safety precautions in place for fans, players and staff, visit Rays website.