ST. PETERSBURG - For the second time in Devil Rays history, Tropicana Field sold out Tuesday.
Under a cloudless blue sky, fans arrived by the thousands, clogging Interstate 275 for miles as cars snaked slowly through downtown St. Petersburg.
Parking lots were filled about 30 minutes before the game, and impatient fans were directed to BayWalk and the Pier for shuttle rides to the stadium.
"Look at this crowd," said Mayor Rick Baker. "It's unbelievable."
After waiting in line for parking spaces, fans waited in long lines for warm pizza and cold beer. But most didn't mind.
"It's exciting," said Darrell Spiva, 34, of Clearwater. "It's the anticipation. At this point, everything is possible. ... This could be the year."
Stadium officials announced that the home opener against the New York Yankees was a sellout at 41,755.
The first sellout was on March 31, 1998 - also the first game in franchise history - with a crowd of 45,369.
The Rays have finished last in each of their five seasons and are always near the bottom of the league in attendance. But officials had anticipated a possible sellout on Tuesday, crediting large crowds for the home opener and a hearty group of Yankees fans across Tampa Bay.
"This is how it should be," said Devil Rays fan Jack Prouty, 62. "We should never give up on our team."
The fans arrived hopeful on Tuesday, excited about the young talent on the team and approving of manager Lou Piniella. Anything, they said, is possible this season. Even beating the Yankees.
"We're going to crush them," said 24-year-old Tony Bucklen, as he puffed on a cigar before the game. "It's going to be a blowout, definitely."
His friends, wearing Yankees caps and sipping Bud Light, cackled.
But Bucklen got the last laugh. The Rays beat the Yankees, 9 to 4.
"This is a team that doesn't give up," said Mike Percifield, a 52-year-old teacher from Largo. "And I don't give up on this team."
Although the traffic was heavy, no serious accidents occurred before the game, police said.
Most of the privately owned parking lots around Tropicana Field were open for business Tuesday, despite some last-minute concerns about compliance with the city's codes.
Only two lots were not allowed to open, said Judy DiVencenzo, vice-president of Park Pro, the parking company that manages most of the private lots. Both properties are scheduled to be sold, and the owners decided it wasn't worth the money to bring them up to code.
Signs were posted at the lots, 1700 Central Ave. and 1663 Central Ave., warning patrons they would be towed.
The city allowed the other private lot owners to open after they showed proof that they are working to bring their properties into compliance, DiVencenzo said.
Minutes before the game, Prouty sat quietly in his seat on the crowded third level. He looked around at all the Devil Rays jerseys. He smiled.
For the first time, he said, there were as many Devil Rays fans as Yankees fans drinking beer at a local pub before the game.
"The community needs to support this team," he said.
Prouty leaned back and smiled, already planning to return for today's game.
"Win or lose," he said, "I'll always be here."
- Staff writer Carrie Johnson contributed to this report.
Jamie Thompson can be reached at 727 893-8455. Send e-mail to jjones@sptimes.com[Last modified April 7, 2004, 03:50:57]
