TAMPA — It’s a whole new ballgame for fans attending a Tampa Bay Rays game this year.

With the team playing this season at Steinbrenner Field while storm-damaged Tropicana Field is out of commission, St. Petersburg fans will have a longer commute. In good traffic, it’s a 20-minute drive from the base of the Howard Frankland Bridge to the Dale Mabry stadium location.

Here’s what fans should know before their first in-person Rays game this season.

Parking and bag requirements

Parking is across the street in the Raymond James Stadium lot. It costs $30 to park but you are free to tailgate. You then have to walk across a pedestrian bridge over the highway.

Fans wait for gates to open on the pedestrian bridge before the start of Rays opening day at Steinbrenner Field on Friday, March 28, 2025 in Tampa. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]

There’s a new clear-bag policy. So if you don’t want to trek back over that bridge to return your purse to the car, be mindful that gamegoers can only bring clear bags no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches, or single-pocket clutches no larger than 5 inches by 7 inches. Diaper bags or medical equipment cannot exceed 16 inches by 8 inches.

The food

The Rays have prided themselves over the years on inviting local restaurants like Pacific Counter, Chicken Salad Chick and the Sarasota-based Daiquiri Deck to have stands at games.

Bill Walsh, Rays chief business officer, said they were limited by Steinbrenner Field’s infrastructure. Steinbrenner Field, which is a minor league stadium more accustomed to serving up burgers, hot dogs and nachos, has five concession stands. Tropicana Field had 30.

Jay Faedo and Daniel Brown watch as their kids toss around a baseball in the parking lot ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays opening day on Friday, March 28, 2025 in Tampa. Fans are free to tailgate in the parking lot before the games and some enjoyed that on the grass over the asphalt of Tropicana Field. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]

Upon entry after the pedestrian bridge, there is a promenade packed with vendors hawking lemonade, popcorn, soft pretzels, ice cream, beer and cocktails.

Some of the vendors from Tropicana Field, including Coppertail Brewing, Viva Tequila Selzer and New Belgium Brewing, transferred over to Steinbrenner, according to Anthony Rioles, the Rays vice president of corporate partnerships. And local pizza maker Colony Grill has joined them. Every time the Rays score a home run, Colony Grill is offering ticket holders a buy-one, get-one-free deal on their hot oil pizza, good for the next seven days.

Tampa’s Coppertail Brewing has had a presence at Tropicana Field for five years. Founder Kent Bailey said his heart sank when he saw the hurricane rip the roof off.

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“It would have had a big impact on our business if they had gone away,” Bailey said as he watched crowds line up for his beers on opening day Friday in Tampa. They are selling three beers and Fallen Fruit Hard Cider, each for $16.99, on the first and third base concourses. “They have been good to us.”

At Legendary BBQ in Steinbrenner Field, they sell a hand-carved pastrami sandwich, left, and pulled pork mac and cheese topped with barbecue sauce and bread crumbs. [ Sharon Kennedy Wynne ]

The official concessioner is Legends Hospitality, and they have a regular lineup of Nathan’s hot dogs ($6.99 or $15.49 for an extra long dog), nachos ($11.99) and burgers (starting at $9.99), including a new Rays-themed Burst Burger ($19.99). It’s a double cheeseburger made with Wagyu beef patties on a brioche bun that is eerily similar to the same-priced 99 Burger that Legends Hospitality introduced in the 2023 season and named in honor of Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge.

One recent addition from Legends Hospitality that Walsh is particularly happy about is a 300-pound smoker that serves Legendary BBQ, a concession stand on the third base line.

It has pulled pork mac and cheese ($10.99) and a hand-carved smoked pastrami sandwich ($14.99).

The pulled pork mac and cheese features a creamy white cheese sauce that encases the noodles, topped with smoked pulled pork, a drizzle of semi-sweet barbecue sauce and bread crumbs. It might be a bit much on a hot day but it was a meal on its own. The pastrami was served with a pickle and thick slices of toasted rye bread slathered with mustard and layers of smoked pastrami.

Robert “Stilt Guy” Carroll high fives 12-year-old Hudson Faedo during Rays opening day on Friday, March 28 in Tampa. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]

Drinks are typical stadium prices at $15-$25 for a beer depending on the style, $12.49 for a canned tequila seltzer and $9.99 for wine. It’s $4 for a bottle of water, $4.99 for a soda (Pepsi products here, though Coca-Cola remains the Rays official soda for community events).

Beat the heat

Though Friday’s opening day was a breezy, comfortable March day, we know those warmer days are coming. The Rays have altered their schedule to play earlier and later to avoid summer heat and rain. They have also set up misting stations around the stadium and offer free sunscreen.

Umbrellas are not allowed, so you might want to pack a poncho, a battery-powered fan or a mister with a fan attachment. You can also pack a sealed 20-ounce water bottle or an empty plastic 44-ounce bottle to refill at the water stations. No metal, aluminum or glass bottles will be permitted.

Depending on the time of day, the shaded seats are found behind home plate, the third base line in later afternoon and under cover in the Loge Club seats.

The shaded seats are found behind home plate and the third base line in later afternoon at Steinbrenner Field. On opening day, a flag was stretched out during the National Anthem ahead of the 4 p.m. game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]

The first base line and outfield are the sunniest spots.

The Rays have launched a webpage for fans to monitor weather before and during their trip to the ballpark at RaysBaseball.com/Weather.

Fan perks

Family Fundays returns on Sunday afternoons. Pregame entertainment will feature face painters, balloon twisters and a variety of interactive activities. Fans 14 and younger can get player autographs on Sundays along the first base line, approximately 60 minutes before the game’s first pitch.

A limited number of standing-room-only tickets will be made available for $20 for home games. The Rays Rush Tickets will be released prior to each home series, and fans who sign up in advance will be notified by a text message and receive their tickets in the MLB Ballpark app.

Sensory bags will continue to be available at Guest Services on the main concourse, offering support for fans with sensitivities to noise, lights or crowds. It contains items such as a weighted lap pad, noise‐reducing headphones, hand fidgets and a coloring book and crayons.