Three years after sparse crowds in playoffs, Rays draw packed house vs. Yankees

The Tampa Bay Rays drew a packed house at Tropicana Field on Saturday for Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees. Demand for tickets prompted the franchise to remove the tarps covering the upper deck, marking the first time the Rays have hosted the Yankees for a postseason contest.

Manager Kevin Cash praised the vocal support, calling the atmosphere the best he had heard during his 12 years with the organization. The surge in attendance came three years after the Rays recorded historically low crowds during the 2023 postseason.