World Series at the Trop: parking, shuttle and dates

The World Series comes to Tropicana Field on Monday. The Tampa Bay Rays host the Milwaukee Brewers in Games 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and in Game 5 on Wednesday if it is needed.

Every parking space at the stadium will be prepaid. If you have not bought a parking pass from the Rays, the city says to stay off the roads right around the ballpark and drive straight to a downtown lot.

That advice comes from the city’s postseason parking guide, updated Wednesday for the World Series.

The schedule

The series opens in Milwaukee on Friday. All games start at 8 p.m. ET and air on Fox, according to Major League Baseball’s postseason schedule, which says times can change.

The Rays reached the World Series by beating Cleveland four games to two in the American League Championship Series. The Brewers swept the National League series 4-0, MLB’s results show.

Watching Games 1 and 2 at the Trop

The Rays are holding official watch parties for both Milwaukee games on the field at Tropicana Field, according to the team’s postseason page. Doors open at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, an hour before first pitch.

Tickets come in three tiers:

• $10: general admission, with food and drink for purchase
• $35: buffet, at the Hall of Fame Bar and Grill
• $60: all-inclusive, at the 162 Landing

The team lists raffles, on-field photos and a chance to play catch on the field, and asks fans to bring their own glove. Parking for the watch parties is sold separately on the same page.

Getting there for Games 3, 4 and 5

The city’s guide lists these options.

Parking downtown. Many lots and garages are within walking distance of the stadium. They include a new 540-space garage at 1301 Central Ave., across from Ferg’s Bar and Grill. Enter it from First Avenue North. The city’s parking page lists more lots.

The free Baseball Shuttle. Buses and trolleys run every five minutes or so, from three hours before first pitch until two hours after the last out. The trolleys have wheelchair lifts. The stops are about a mile from the stadium, the city said, so the shuttle saves that walk. The stops are:

• Second Street South, between Central Avenue and First Avenue South, under the pedestrian bridge. Drivers can park in the garage entered from First Avenue South between First and Second streets.
• 16th Street, just south of Third Avenue South.

Routes are on the Looper trolley’s baseball shuttle page.

The SunRunner. PSTA’s rapid bus runs from St. Pete Beach through west and central St. Petersburg to downtown, every 15 minutes at peak times, until midnight. PSTA is adding buses for the games, the city said. The nearest stations are:

• eastbound: First Avenue South at 13th Street
• westbound: First Avenue North at 13th Street

Times and fares are on PSTA’s SunRunner page. St. Pete Beach is about seven miles west of downtown.

Rideshare. Uber and Lyft drop-off and pickup will be on Fourth Avenue South by Lot 7 and on 17th Street South by Lot 3.

Scooters and bikes. Rental e-scooters park in marked corrals around downtown, and Lime runs the city’s bike share.

What it means for you

• No parking pass, no stadium lot. Do not drive up to the Trop hoping to pay at the gate. Head for a downtown garage or the shuttle stops instead.
• Live or work near the Trop? Expect heavy traffic Monday and Tuesday evenings, and Wednesday if Game 5 is played. Postgame traffic runs late, with the shuttle going until two hours after the final out.
• Going to Halloween on Central on Sunday? That event is the day before Game 3, with Central Avenue closed to cars from Dr. MLK Jr. Street to 31st Street. Our Halloween on Central guide has the times and the free parking at the Trop that day.
• Getting around downtown any other week: see our getting around guide, which covers parking, the trolleys and the SunRunner.

We will update this page if Game 5 is confirmed or the times change.