The Orioles originally "wanted to swap" this weekend's series against the Rays for one slated to be played at Tropicana Field in July, but MLB decided that it "was already difficult enough costing the Orioles fan base five home dates in Baltimore this week, and would be unwise to affect another franchise's fan base as well," according to sources cited by Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore SUN. Amid the social unrest in Baltimore, this weekend's series against the Rays was moved to Tropicana Field, though the Orioles will serve as the home team. During the teams' July series at the Trop, the Rays are hosting a postgame concert, "certainly creating one of their best summer weekend draws of the season." The Rays' summer concert series is "tied closely to their season-ticket plans." The Orioles for this weekend's series "did request playing the same crowd prompts and videos that are played at Camden Yards, but were rebuffed by MLB, which preferred a more neutral experience." The Rays "are making several efforts to make sure the series will have an impartial feel to it." There "will be none of the typical sponsorship elements presented during a regular Rays home game, no game emcee and no pump-up-the-crowd elements." The seventh-inning stretch, however, "will undoubtedly be Orioles-slanted, with John Denver's 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy' to be played." The Orioles "had to book a charter flight on a different airline carrier and aren't staying at their usual team hotel because of last-minute bookings." The Rays "will have to bring in about 700 gameday staff members." Since Sarasota "is less than an hour south of The Trop, Orioles spring training season holders were emailed the opportunity to purchase tickets for a $3 discount" (Baltimore SUN, 5/1). In Tampa, Marc Topkin reports about 18,000 tickets "are available, with general admission seating in the lower bowl" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/1).
