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Rays Fans Snapping Up Tickets, Looking To October

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Dudley Wilcox strode away from the box office at Tropicana Field late this morning. He had tickets in his hand and a spring in his step.

He had attended four games or so this year, but he can't let this opportunity pass. He got tickets for Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins, the second to last home game of the season for the remarkable Rays.

Wednesday night, the team won its second of three games against the Boston Red Sox and clung to a two-game lead over the Sox in the American League East. Four home games remain.

Business at the box office seemed steady late this morning.

"My mom wanted to go to the game," said Wilcox, 53, of Pinellas Park. She is in an adult-care facility and dons a Carl Crawford jersey to watch the games on television. Saturday, she'll be at Tropicana Field. Wilcox said he was lucky enough to score handicap seats for his mom.

If the Rays continue the way they are playing, they likely will make the playoffs.

Wilcox says he will be there.

"I am sure we will make the games," he said.

Tickets sales for the final four games are moving right along, said Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn.

"Tickets remain for all four games against the Twins," Vaughn wrote in an e-mail this afternoon. "More than 15,000 remain for tonight and 10,000 remain for the Friday and Saturday, both nationally televised games."

Postseason tickets have not gone on sale, he said, but an announcement is expected -- perhaps by tomorrow -- outlining how to get tickets for October games.

The team's Web site requires anyone interested in postseason tickets to register online. Names will be drawn at an undisclosed date.

Winners will be offered tickets to the American League division series, the site states.

Outside the stadium box office this morning, people were interested in getting seats for the Minnesota series.

Joan Jacobs of St. Petersburg had just scored a few extra tickets for the Friday and Sunday games. She shares season tickets and goes to a lot of games, she said.

As a season ticket holder will get priority when it comes to postseason games.

"I'm a big fan," she said. "I've been a big fan forever."

THAT'S THE TICKET

The Rays play their last home game of the season Sunday. The Tropicana Field box office opens at 9 a.m. each day and stays open until the end of the game.

The Rays' Tampa office is at Park Tower, 400 N. Tampa St., in downtown Tampa, and fans can buy tickets there from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. weekdays.

The Ticketmaster outlet at International Plaza is another option. The box office is on the lower level of the mall at the concierge desk. Ticket buyers can enter through the mall at Robb & Stucky Interiors. The concierge desk is to the left of the double elevators.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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