FAN FEST 2009 - Special 9=8.com Ticket Package!

So, the Rays announced the details of Fan Fest 2009 over the weekend and I wanted to share the details with you here. I also think it's cool that the Rays decided to launch a special 9=8.com (ok, so it's just 9=8) ticket package! Buy 9 tickets for the price of 8! I'll just pretend they launched this deal because of the success of this blog.

Anyway, the highlights are as follow: Free Parking; 10AM to 5PM (unless you are a season ticketholder - then it's earlier (9AM for season tickerholders); Autographs (from Noon to 5PM - UPDATED list below); ALCS Trophy, Food, Games and more. The official Tampa Bay Rays press release is below. Don't miss out!

Here is the schedule released by the team as of Tuesday afternoon, and subject to change:

Noon-1 p.m.
Table 1 John Jaso, Gabe Kapler
Table 2- Juan Salas, Ray Olmedo
Table 3- Pat Burrell, Randy Choate
Table 4- Tim Beckham, Reid Brignac
Table 5- Carl Crawford
(Season Ticket Holders Line- Photo Only) –James Shields, Fernando Perez

1-2 p.m.
Table 1- Joe Nelson, Chad Bradford
Table 2- B.J. Upton , Willy Aybar
Table 3- Chad Orvella, Michel Hernandez, Derek Rodriguez
Table 4- Julio DePaula , Jacob McGee
Table 5- Jon Weber, Jason Cromer, Calvin Medlock
(Season Ticket Holders Line- Photo Only) Evan Longoria, Matt Garza

2-3 p.m.
Table 1- Matt Joyce, Grant Balfour
Table 2- Carlos Pena, Jason Hammel
Table 3- Craig Albernaz, Ray Sadler
Table 4- Jeremy Cummings, Elliot Johnson
Table 5- Neil Frontz, Chris Nowak, Dan Wheeler
(Season Ticket Holders Line- Photo Only) Dioner Navarro, Andy Sonnanstine

3-4 p.m.
Table 1- Steve Henderson, Joe Maddon
Table 2- Wade Davis, David Price
Table 3- Dave Martinez, George Hendrick
Table 4- Lance Cormier, Brian Shouse
Table 5- Chris Richard, Jason Childers, Dewon Day
(Season Ticket Holders Line- Photo Only)- Jason Bartlett, J.P. Howell

4-5 p.m.
Table 1-Bobby Ramos, Jim Hickey
Table 2- James Houser, Mitch Talbot
Table 3- Shawn Riggans, Justin Ruggiano
Table 4- Scott Kazmir, Carlos Hernandez
Table 5- Brian Anderson, Tom Foley, Todd Greene
(Season Ticket Holders Line- Photo Only) Troy Percival, Jeff Niemann

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- The Tampa Bay Rays 2009 Fan Fest, presented by MetroPCS, will be held Saturday, February 14 at Tropicana Field. The event is also sponsored by Southern Chevy Dealers,Sweetbay Supermarket and Bright House Sports Network.

Fan Fest hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the general public. Admission and parking are free to this fun-filled event.

A $10 donation to the Rays Baseball Foundation will allow fans the opportunity to get autographs from Rays players and coaches throughout the day. Autographs for kids 14 and under and season ticketholders are free with a wristband. Season ticket holders will also have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with a Rays player.

More than 20 former major leaguers will be signing autographs during the event as well.
While individual tickets will go on sale the week of February 23, fans can purchase season ticket plans and select their seats at Fan Fest. The Rays will also introduce a special 9=8 Ticket Package, which includes tickets to 9 games for the price of 8. Prices for the 9=8 package start as low as $95 and are available in the Baseline Box and Upper Deck. The package also includes a wristband for access to the autograph areas.

All fans will have an opportunity to have their photo taken with the American League Championship Trophy, courtesy of Visual Touch Photography. In addition, fans can visit the Bright House Sports Network Kids Interactive Zone and take a swing in a big league batting cage, test their fastball in the speed pitch booth and hit a home run in the Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby. Kids will also have the chance to run the bases and all fans can tour the Rays clubhouse.
Select Rays postseason merchandise will be available at 50% off.

Rays broadcasters Andy Freed, Dave Wills, Dewayne Staats and Todd Kalas will be on hand as will former major league catcher and manager and current broadcaster Buck Martinez, who will conduct a special question-and-answer session for all fans in the Centerfield Street Brew House at 1 p.m.

Martinez is currently host of Baseball This Morning on XM Radio and is a broadcaster for TBS and the Baltimore Orioles TV network.

The Rays will also welcome a special guest. Joey Chestnut, the winner of the 2007 and 2008 Annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, will greet fans and sign autographs. Chestnut, who unseated Kobayashi as the world champion, is ranked as the number one professional eater in the world.

Fans are encouraged to stop by the MetroPCS Call-A-Friend Stage from 1:00-3:00 p.m. to have the opportunity for a Rays player to call a friend or family member and receive the most up-to-date information on MetroPCS products.

Artifacts from the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame will be showcased as well as artifacts from the world's largest autographed baseball collection, including balls signed by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb and many others. There will also be a baseball card show. The team will honor their most loyal and diehard fans by inducting six new members into the Rays/Pepsi Fan Wall of Fame during a ceremony at noon on the field. Those being honored are Corinne Bulla, St. Petersburg; Annie Miller, St. Petersburg; Pieter Wiemkin, St. Petersburg; Father Tom Anastasia, Plant City; David Brougham, New Port Richey; and Charlie Troeger, Auburndale.

The Rays Touch Tank presented by Visit St. Petersburg Clearwater will be open for fans to pet and feed live cownose rays. A silent auction will take place with proceeds benefiting the Rays Baseball Foundation.

The team will also be holding National Anthem auditions at Fan Fest. The first 50 fans to register will audition live for a chance to sing the anthem before a game at Tropicana Field this season. Audition sign-ups will be from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Gate 1. Auditions will begin at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m.

Groups and musical instruments (acoustic only) are welcome. For more information on Rays National Anthem auditions please call (727) 825-3151.

Fans may call 888-FAN-RAYS or log on to http://www.raysbaseball.com/ for more information on the Rays 2009 Fan Fest.