/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56421085/98294948.0.jpg)
In the wake of the tragic events unfolding in Houston this past week, a practical question of baseball was raised. It wasn’t something anyone wanted to be thinking about while people were evacuating and images filled the internet of people rushing to safety from the rising water, but still, the MLB needed to know: Where will the Houston Astros play?
For the Astros players, many of whom had friends and family in the area, it certainly wasn’t their foremost concern, but there were still home games to be played, and no obvious place to move to. When the MLB asked the Rays if Tropicana Field could be used as an alternative home venue, the Rays were quick to offer their support.
Now, they’re taking it a step further.
In addition to letting the Astros use the Trop for as their home field for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers (and possibly for an upcoming series against the Mets), the Rays will be selling tickets at a reduced $10 cost, and parking will be $10 as well. This will provide open seating in the lower bowl. They will be donating the proceeds from these ticket sales to relief efforts for Houston.
All ticket, concessions and parking revenues from this three-game series are being donated to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 29, 2017
It is an usual situation, to say the least, for a competing team to make themselves at home in another stadium. But the circumstances being what they are, the Rays have stepped up to the task and gone above and beyond to help.
If you’re in the area during the Astros “homestand,” consider heading to the Trop, grabbing a hot dog, and watching some Texas vs Texas baseball for a good cause.