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Want To See The Rays? Move Fast To Get Seats

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Dudley Wilcox strode away from the box office at Tropicana Field, tickets in hand and a spring in his step.

"My mom wanted to go to the game," said Wilcox, 53, of Pinellas Park. His mother wears a Carl Crawford jersey to watch the Tampa Bay Rays on TV at the adult-care center where she lives. But Saturday, she will be at Tropicana Field, in the handicap seats with her son.

Wilcox joined a steady stream of fans lining up for tickets at the Tropicana Field box office Thursday morning to see the team play its last regular-season games at home this weekend.

Like other fans, however, Wilcox was also looking forward to playoff games after that - a first for a team enjoying its best season ever.

This seems to have put Tampa Bay area residents in the mood to snap up Rays' merchandise. The Rays' pro shop in downtown Tampa was bustling with shoppers Thursday.

Rays Senior Vice President Mark Fernandez said the store saw strong game-ticket and merchandise sales Thursday.

"We had a phenomenal day," Fernandez said.

More than 10,000 tickets were available for the games against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday and Sunday, both nationally televised, Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said Thursday afternoon.

Postseason tickets have not gone on sale, he said, but an announcement is expected as soon as today on how to get them.

Registration is being accepted online at raysbaseball.com.

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

As a season-ticket holder she will get priority for postseason games.

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

WHERE TO BUY

Tropicana Field box office, St. Petersburg, open 9 a.m. today, Saturday and Sunday until game ends.

Rays' Tampa office, Park Tower, 400 N. Tampa St., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Ticketmaster outlet, International Plaza, lower level at concierge desk.

Raysbaseball.com

Reporter Russell Ray contributed to this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at kmorelli@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7760.

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