ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — You may not have a seat for the World Series game, but the Tampa Bay Rays have re-opened the team store at Tropicana Field so fans can buy playoff gear ahead of game one on Tuesday.
“I look for anything with that Tampa Bay logo and World Series logo, and I’m happy,” longtime Rays fan Robert Dobuzinsky said.
The lines were long outside the Rays Republic Team store, only allowing a few people in at a time to keep social distancing.
“I’m definitely getting a World Series hat,” Rays fan Theresa Zeoli said, “I can not wait!”
The Rays in the World Series is also bittersweet. Fans are happy to see their team in the big game but disappointed they can’t be there in person with the games being played in Arlington, Texas in a bubble.
“I’m thrilled. I don’t care how we get there,” Zeoli added. "I’m just thrilled we’re going to be there.”
“It’s just amazing. I can’t say it in words,” Anthony Scuotto said. “We are season tickets holders, too. It just stinks we can’t be in the stands for it.”
This is also a chance for longtime Rays fans to brag on their team a little on their first World Series appearance since 2008!
“We’re going to the World Series!” Dobuzinsky said. “The Yankees are back home, the Red Sox are back home. We’re heading to Arlington to show those old time New Yorkers, who used to be the Brooklyn Dodgers, what it’s like to get the heat put on them when the Rays are in town!”
Game one is Tuesday at 8:09 p.m. ET.
