Rays opening Trop to 9,000 fans to start '21

When the Rays return to Tropicana Field this season, they will welcome fans back into the stands.

The Rays announced on Tuesday that single-game tickets for the first month of the 2021 season will go on sale to the general public on March 26 at 10 a.m. ET in the MLB Ballpark app and at RaysBaseball.com, subject to availability.

Tickets will be available in socially distant pods of up to six seats. To make room for that level of separation between pods, the Rays announced that Tropicana Field’s 300 level will be reopened for this season and the overall capacity will be limited to approximately 9,000 fans per game.

“We are excited to welcome back fans to Tropicana Field for the 2021 season,” Rays president Matt Silverman said in a statement. “Al­though capacity will be limited to start, we are hopeful that conditions will continue to improve, allowing for more fans to join us as the season progresses.”

Season ticket members will have access, based on their tenure and membership level, to purchase tickets through an exclusive online presale. Any fan who purchases or renews a season membership by Friday will have access to an exclusive presale for regular-season home games.

The Rays will begin the season on the road, playing Miami and Boston before arriving at Tropicana Field for their first home series against the Yankees on April 9-11. Their opening month home slate also includes series with the Rangers (April 12-15), Blue Jays (April 23-25), A’s (April 26-29) and Astros (April 30-May 2).

Having worked in partnership with Major League Baseball, local public health officials and their partners at Bayfront Health, the Rays also announced a list of measures taken to ensure fan and staff safety at the Trop this season. Among those measures:

• All fans 2 years of age or older, including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, are required to wear a face mask inside Tropicana Field. Face masks must completely cover the nose and mouth and be worn at all times except when actively eating or drinking in a ticketed seat. Gaiters, bandanas, masks with ventilation holes and other versions of face coverings will not be permitted.

• The Trop will undergo enhanced cleaning and sanitization before, during and after each game to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Fans will also be asked to frequently wash their hands and utilize hand-sanitizing stations. Additionally, all staff and vendors will be screened for signs or symptoms of COVID-19 before each game.

• Tickets for all Rays home games at Tropicana Field this season will be accessible exclusively in the Ballpark app on a mobile device. Paper tickets will not be available or accepted. Contactless security screening will allow fans to keep all items in their pockets upon entering the ballpark. No bags will be permitted except for diaper bags accompanying a young child and medical device bags. The only outside food or beverage permitted will be one sealed, personal-sized bottle of water.

• The Rays are encouraging fans to purchase parking in advance to further reduce contact with staff. To incentivize that option, prepaid parking will be available at a discount at RaysBaseball.com/Parking.

• UV lights and specially designed electronic devices have been installed in Tropicana Field’s air conditioning units to break down harmful contaminants, including coronavirus. The club also added air filters with a higher minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating, which more effectively trap small particles.