ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Fans of the Tampa Bay Rays got to enjoy their first home game since learning the team is staying in St. Petersburg. 

What You Need To Know

  • Tampa Bay Rays fans at Ferg's Sports Bar said Tuesday evening they're glad the team is staying in St. Petersburg 

  •  The owner of Ferg's said the team is good for local businesses

  •  Fans said they're looking forward to seeing what redevelopment of the Gas Plant District will mean for the team

  • Read previous coverage here

"We're pumped. I'm so glad they're staying in St. Pete," said Ryan Howard, who went to Tuesday night's game with his son, Mason.

"We are so happy," said Robert Harris as he enjoyed dinner at Ferg's Sports Bar before the game.

"It's a home run for the city, it's a home run for all the Rays fans, and it's a home run for Ferg's Sports Bar," Ferg's owner Mark Ferguson said.

Ferguson said summer is normally a slow time for city businesses, but it's his busiest time of the year — and that's because of the Rays.

"This has taken 16 years of different scenarios, and I always knew this was the best spot for them because we have the land. It's going to transform 86 acres of a small town," Ferguson said.

David White drove from Lakeland to watch Tuesday's game. He said he's hopeful about what the redevelopment of the entire Gas Plant District will mean for the team.

"They're going to have restaurants and stuff like that," White said. "Maybe they can promote that and get some more people from down south to come over and more people from Lakeland to come over this way."

When it comes to building a stadium, fans had mixed feelings.

"I'm gonna cry when the Trop closes, but I'm sure I'll go to the new stadium and have a good time," Harris said.

He made made the trip from Sarasota to go to the game.

"I don't mind the Trop - 72 degrees every, single time. Fan of the Trop - it's fine," Howard said. "But looking at the new design, open air on the sides, still dome covered, 30,000 fans, all new - it's exactly what they need." 

Spectrum Bay News 9 also heard from viewers on Facebook who posted that they had concerns with the plan. A number of people said the site of the Trop and the new stadium is hard to get to for people who don't live in that part of Pinellas County, mainly because of traffic. Others questioned whether a new stadium is needed and whether that money could be better spent elsewhere.