Rays home opener: Fans return to the Trop for first time since 2019

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It’s the day Tampa Bay Rays fans have been waiting for since before the pandemic. They’re allowed back in the stands at Tropicana Field for the first time since 2019, but home games will be a lot different this season with the new health and safety plans in place.

And the fans were not disappointed. Rich Hill pitched six strong innings, Austin Meadows led a hit parade against Corey Kluber and New York's bullpen, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 10-5.

The Rays home opener against the New York Yankees started Friday at 3:10 p.m. Only 9,000 seats were available in order to follow social distancing guidelines.

Earlier this week, the team announced the game was sold out.

Masks are required at all times except when eating or drinking, which is only allowed while sitting. Lines are socially distanced, as will seats.

No bags are allowed inside. Tickets are virtual, through the MLB Ballpark app. The app will also be the method to order food once inside the Trop. Instead of standing in line, the app will notify fans when their order is ready.

The only other item fans can bring in with them is a sealed personal-sized bottle of water.

The Rays championship banners were raised before the home opener against New York.

This is the first time fans can congratulate their Rays in person for making the World Series.

"It's going to be a new normal for us," said fan Leah Arnold. "We are so excited to be able to air hug everybody, air hug Ozzie, air hug all the team members, air hug our Section 120 family."

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Ahead of the first pitch, championship banners for winning the AL East and the ALCS were raised. The national anthem was performed by Lynsey Bracken, an ER nurse at Bayfront Health.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.