ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have made quite a few improvements to Tropicana Field ahead of Opening Day on Thursday, March 28, 2019, and on Sunday they unveiled new blue lights on the roof of the Trop.
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The team hosted its first pregame workout at the Trop before the game against the Braves in North Port and the players got to see the new lighting.
The new blue LED lights are still pending approval from Major League Baseball, but the Rays are confident they will get approval in the next few days, according to a press release.
So, why did they add the blue lights? The team is hoping a blue roof, instead of the white, will give more contrast to the ball and help outfielders see the ball a little bit easier.
“I thought it was awesome,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “I’m looking forward to seeing it tonight. The guys’ feedback was good. It’ll be interesting to see it tonight, but from what I’ve been told and seen in pictures, it’s like a darker blue [at night]. It gives more contrast to the ball.”
“I liked it,” outfielder Austin Meadows said. “I think at night it will benefit us because you can see the ball a little bit. I feel like we’re able to pick it up a little bit better. It’s hard to tell during the day, but I think at night it’ll be easier to see. It looks cool, too.”
