Rays sell out 2023 home opener and honor James Shields during pregame ceremony
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Tampa Bay Rays have announced that the 2023 home opener on Thursday, March 30 against the Detroit Tigers is sold out. This marks the 17th consecutive season the Rays have sold out their home opener, excluding the 2020 season which was played without fans. The 2023 Rays season is presented by Bayfront Health.
Prior to the home opener, former Rays pitcher James Shields will symbolically retire as a Ray and throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch.
James Shields will also visit the “Home Run Club” suite, formerly known as the “Big Game James Club,” reuniting with founding club members. In 2010, James and Ryane Shields, along with the Rays, donated a suite to begin a special club for foster kids called the “Big Game James Club.” In 2013, the suite was renamed “Home Run Club” following Shields’ trade to the Kansas City Royals. In partnership with United Concordia Dental, the club continues to offer a sense of stability and belonging to foster children and adoptive families throughout Tampa Bay. More than 30,000 suite tickets have been donated to foster children and families, and Home Run Club events hosted by the Rays have resulted in numerous adoptions for local foster children.
The game will be televised locally by Bally Sports Sun, with first pitch slated for 3:10 p.m. All Rays games are available on WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM and streaming for free on iHeart Radio in Tampa Bay. Additionally, over 150 games are available in Spanish on Genesis 92.9 FM/680 AM (Monday–Thursday) and Caliente 96.1 FM/101.5 FM/1470 AM (Friday–Sunday).
Tickets are available for the remainder of the homestand against the Tigers (April 1-2).
Single-game tickets for all Rays home games are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased exclusively through the MLB Ballpark app or online at RaysBaseball.com. Rays Season Memberships are on sale now and offer priority access to tickets, plus the flexibility to choose the games, number of tickets and seating locations that best fit your schedule. For more information, visit RaysBaseball.com/SeasonMembership.