New start times for Rays games

Posted Jan 29, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Jan 29, 2010 at 06:01 PM

The Rays changed the start times for Friday home games, moving them up to 7:10 p.m.

They’ve also juggled the start times on Saturday, with games that begin at 3:10 p.m., 4:05 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 6:10 p.m. and 7:10 p.m.

Friday night games began at 7:38 last season, a move that was aimed toward given fans more time to reach Tropicana Field. While many liked the later start, the Rays learned most fans didn’t like the later finishes. So, this yea, the games start at 7:10.

Saturday game times are affected by FOX baseball, which does not permit teams to televise games during the 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. slot reserved for the FOX Saturday game of the week, and the Rays annual summer concert series.

FOX will come to the Trop for three games – April 10 against the Yankees (3:10 p.m.), May 15 against the Mariners (4:10) and Aug. 14 against the Orioles (4:10).

The Rays game against Arizona on June 26 will start at 4:05 p.m., because FOX is televising a night game that day.

The 6:10 p.m. starts are for the concert series, which will be announced in March.

All week night games start at 7:10. Sunday games begin at 1:40.