ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (WFLA) — On Saturday, May 31, you can get your hands on some Rays gear that has been stored inside Tropicana Field.
The Rays Baseball Foundation is having a preconstruction yard sale, and all the proceeds will go to charity.
For the event, people pay $20 and get a bag to fill up with items. They have 75,000 items to choose from, like shirts, nutcrackers, bobbleheads, jerseys, and of course, some hats. Officials said people can purchase more than one bag to fill.
Everything will be up for grabs outside of Tropicana Field for the Rays Baseball Foundation charity event.
“It will allow us to support our programs like ‘Reading with the Rays’ or the Rays’ Jersey Program, where we outfit all t-ball players and coaches in the area with free Rays’ shirts and hats. It will allow us to continue to do meaningful work through grants, like our community fund grant program,” said David Egles, Executive Director of the Foundation.
Even with construction on the Trop beginning in June, David Egles, executive director of the foundation, wants to set the record straight.
“Nothing will go to the stadium, nothing will go towards construction, nothing is going to the business side. It’s all going to go right back into the community to various non-profits,” he said.
Dozens of volunteers are setting up shop with some items never given to fans before.
The Trop faced severe damage after last year’s hurricanes, so organizers said they wanted to turn it into something positive.
“We checked every square inch, every nook and cranny of Tropicana Field. We had to have everything out, so they could start construction, so we can get back into the building,” Egles said. “So, instead of taking it to storage, we thought, why not provide an opportunity to our fans to get some really cool items at a really affordable price.”
The Foundation has given $21 million towards scholarships since it was created in 2008.
Officials are hoping this yard sale brings in more money for the community.
“When kids and families come in tomorrow and their eyes light up and kids are pointing out which items to stuff in the bag to their parents, that’s why we’re all out here volunteering and working through the rain and the heat. It’s for those moments, like tomorrow, where we can hopefully make a lot of people’s days,” Egles said.
All of the parking is going to be in Lot 6, but the tents are here in Lot 7.
The event is going to go from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, but if you are an annual season ticket holder, you can show up starting at 10 a.m.