An American flag is stretched out during the national anthem ahead of the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies during opening day at Steinbrenner Field on Friday in Tampa.

For 27 years, Tampa Bay Rays fans have started early on opening day, playing hooky from work and crowding downtown St. Petersburg with a sea of team gear and good vibes from the bars to the ballpark.

TAMPA, Fla. — It’s Opening Day and the Tampa Bay Rays are set to begin a season unlike any other in the team’s 28 years of existence. Chased away from Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton’s ...

READ: Tampa Bay Rays introduce new home at Steinbrenner Field ahead of Opening Day Steinbrenner Field is home to the New York Yankees Spring Training Facility. However, the Tampa Bay team ...

While waiting for the gates to open at Steinbrenner, she said she’s been a Tampa Bay Rays fan “since the day they opened.” While the future of the Rays’ stadium remains unknown ...