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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay Rays will take on a new turf and the Toronto Blue Jays to start the season on Thursday.
Gates to Tropicana Field open at 2:10 p.m.
“The stripes out there, the backfield, it all looks great,” said Dan Moeller, Director of Special Projects & Field Operations.
If you’re going to the game, you should get to the ballpark early for Opening Day. Not only is it a soldout game and parking is expected to fill, but it will also give you time to explore all the ballpark’s new features, like the field.
“We’re not getting the big hops that we were getting in the past with the different backfields so it’s well-received,” Moeller said.
There is now a coconut husk backfield and a crushed walnut shell warning track. With the warning track, Moeller said players should be able to feel when they’re getting close to the wall.
We also asked the chef what’s new on the menu.
“Just trying to elevate the experience of what you normally would find in a ballpark classic,” Senior Executive Chef Kevin Riley said.
That includes creating gluten-friendly versions of baseball classics like a chicken tender basket and hot dogs. They are also leveling up their pretzel game with several new items, including a pretzel bun Reuben sandwich.
Rays Pitcher Zach Elfin, who will start on the mound for Opening Day, won’t be the only one with a pitch clock. Head over to the pretzels.
“Come on down early,” Riley said. “The same way we have the new pitch clock on the field, we’re adding that to the item for the pretzel so it’s 98 available to represent the year of the Rays.”
You will now find an interactive batting cage over by Gate 6 on the field level.
“We were able to have this at Fanfest and it was extremely popular. We had it kind of like right in the middle of the field. Hundreds of fans went through,” said Patrick Abts, the Rays Marketing Vice President. “So we’re really excited to bring this into the Trop this season.”
Kids and adults can test their batting skills and compete with friends through the interactive batting cage games.
The set will be open before the game starts and throughout its entirety.
If you didn’t score a ticket to this game, the Rays will be home for a week.
This series with the Blue Jays ends on Sunday.
Former World Series Champions will head to St. Petersburg for a four-game series beginning on Monday, April 1. The Rays will try to get revenge on the Texas Rangers who beat them out of the playoffs last season.
