The Tampa Bay Rays are applying their successful formula for filling seats - a postgame concert - to their latest venture, the United Football League.
The baseball team, which owns a percentage of the new football league's Florida Tuskers, has signed Grammy-nominated alternative rock band Switchfoot to perform after an Oct. 30 game at Tropicana Field.
The Tuskers will play the Las Vegas Locomotives.
The Tuskers are based in Orlando and are coached by former New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett. Tampa native Jay Gruden, a former Arena Football star and coach, is the offensive coordinator. Players include former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Michael Pittman, Dexter Jackson and Patrick Chukwurah.
The Rays, not known for huge attendance numbers, found significant success with their summer concert series in recent years. The series brought in music acts to perform after Rays games on select Saturday nights and attracted large crowds.
The concert will begin shortly after the 7:30 p.m. game and is free with the purchase of a game ticket. Tickets start at just $15 and are available through Ticketmaster or at the stadium box office.
Switchfoot's major label debut in 2003, "The Beautiful Letdown" sold 2.6 million copies and produced the singles "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move." Switchfoot's latest album, "Hello Hurricane," is due in November.
The UFL kicks off its season Thursday. The Tuskers will play their first game at 7 p.m. Saturday against the New York Sentinels at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
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