‘It’s our home’: Fans fill the Trop for Tampa Bay Rays sold-out home opener
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Tens of thousands of fans flooded into Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Rays sold-out home opener.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s like, I’m in my happy place now,” said Judy Loving, who has been a Rays fan since 2006.
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For Nolan Simpson, it was his first time.
“First opening day, and I’m pretty excited to be here,” he said.
Monte Belote said it’s a tradition, as he attended the Rays’ first-ever home opener back in 1998.
“Absolutely fabulous,” he described. “44,000 people in the seats, a lot of energy and opportunity.”
Now, over 20 years later, he’s back at yet another opening day at Tropicana Field.
“It does have a certain look of being a warehouse, but the reality is, it’s our home,” he explained.
That could all change by 2028, with a new $1.3 billion ballpark.
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“We live up in Zephyrhills, so it’s an hour drive for us, but we don’t mind,” Loving explained. “We love the Trop.”
Her husband, Johnny, agreed, saying “Wherever they’re playing, we’ll be there.”
The new stadium would come with the redevelopment of the surrounding 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District.
But it isn’t a done deal just yet. The proposal still needs to be approved by both the city and county.
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“The votes are huge hurdles,” Tampa Bay Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg said. “We are working feverishly as if we’re going to be building the stadium and this project so we’re thinking about this in a 5-10 year slug right now.”
Sternberg said he’s going to keep preparing in hopes that the green light comes down the road.
“We’re proceeding as if it’s going to happen, and we’re preparing for success,” he explained. “Doesn’t mean it will, and there’s obviously hurdles to get over, but when that happens, we’re going to be prepared for success.”
The Rays have a home game every day through Wednesday.
Tickets are still available here.
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