The Tampa Bay Rays have reached the postseason five straight seasons, and the American League East contenders will shoot for a sixth as they seek the franchise’s first World Series crown.
Yet, attendance at Tropicana Field has been an issue for years. For many, the main issue is that the St. Petersburg stadium is not the easiest to access. There has been talk about building a new stadium in the Tampa Bay area, but that’s years away from becoming a reality.
Like other MLB teams, the Rays offer promotions throughout the spring and summer to attract fans of all ages to the park. FloridaBet.com took a quick break from Florida sports betting updates and wanted to know what theme nights are the most popular. So, using the team’s 2024 promotional schedule, we surveyed Rays fans on Reddit to see what their favorite themed nights were. Then, we ranked the top 5 promotions according to votes.
Tampa Bay Rays Best Theme Nights
Note: The survey was conducted between March 22-25, 2024.
Dog Days Of Spring
Rays fans are especially excited about one of the team’s earliest promotions. The Rays hold Dog Day on April 14 against the San Francisco Giants, and fans can buy special tickets that get them and their "goodest" boy (or girl) into the Party Deck section of Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay hopes the Force will be with fans on May 25 when the Rays host the Kansas City Royals for Star Wars Day. The promotion includes a special ballcap tied to the epic movie series. Ticket prices start at $50.
The same game also happens to be Healthcare Appreciation Day. For $59, you get a ticket and a 40-ounce steel tumbler. No offense to Star Wars fans, but the FloridaBet.com oddsmakers make the tumbler a -250 favorite over the cap (+200). A reminder, those are unofficial and for entertainment purposes only.
Come July 13, the Rays hope to see many Parrotheads as they host the Cleveland Guardians for Margaritaville Day. A special ticket package includes a Rays straw hat, but a lost shaker of salt is not included.
On Aug. 31, the San Diego Padres come to town, and the Rays are holding Harry Potter Day. While there will not be a quidditch match following the game, fans can buy a special ticket package that gives them a lower-level seat and a special stein.
When it comes to Florida sports betting, Hard Rock Bet Florida is the only game in town. Oddsmakers there give the Rays odds of +2500 to win the World Series this year and odds of +120 to make the playoffs.
USA Today photo by Kim Klement
