The rules of the Read Your Way to the Ballpark game are simple. Get your game card @ your library. Choose your favorite books from your local library or select your favorite section of the St. Petersburg Times to read over the summer. As you read, track your hours by rounding the bases and collect Rays rewards along the way.
When you read enough hours to get on first base, ask your parent or guardian to initial your card, then bring it to your local library. The librarian will initial your card and give you a reading reward. Round the bases by reading a total of 24 hours this summer and receive a ticket to a Rays game!
On the back of the card, keep track of your favorite books and newspaper articles you read this summer. You can write about what you have read at the NIE Blogging Zone by clicking HERE.
Reading rewards — Read around the bases — 24 hours total!
Read 3 hours to get from Home Plate to First Base
Reward: Rays temporary tattoo
Read 5 more hours to get from First to Second Base
Reward: Rays poster
Read 7 more hours to get from Second to Third Base
Reward: Rays slap bracelet
Read 9 more hours to get from Third Base to Home Plate
Reward: One (1) ticket to a Rays home game (based upon availability)
In order to receive your one (1) free Rays upper deck ticket, bring your completed game card to the Tropicana Field box Office. In order to receive the desired game and seat location, it is best to redeem this card prior to day of game.
Mail to: Tropicana Field, Attn: Reading with the Rays
One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Mail orders received within seven days of respective game of choice will be left at Will Call, Gate 4.
*Up to two (2) additional upper deck tickets may be purchased with $2 off each with this card when redeeming for free ticket. All seat locations and games offered are based upon availability. Tickets are subject to day of game fee, applicable within 5 hours of first pitch. This offer is not subject to ticket upgrade.
Reading with the Rays will encourage you to read more this summer and to visit the library regularly before you return to school this fall. By reading books this summer, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas county elementary school students in grades three through five (but all school aged children are welcome to participate) can circle the bases - first, second, third and home - and collect prizes as they go.
Make it all the way around to home and your ultimate reward is a ticket to see the Rays in action at Tropicana field in August or September.
How to Get Started: Get your game card @ your library!
You can see the Rays at one of the following games (based on availability of tickets):
Tuesday, 8/2 vs. Toronto @ 7:10 p.m. Friday, 8/5 vs. Oakland @ 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, 8/9 vs. Kansas City @ 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, 8/10 vs. Kansas City @ 7:10 p.m. Sunday, 8/21 vs. Seattle @ 1:40 p.m. Monday, 8/22 vs. Detroit @ 7:10 p.m. Sunday, 9/4 vs. Baltimore @ 1:40 p.m. Friday, 9/23 vs. Toronto @ 7:10 p.m.
The Rays are excited about this summer reading program. To see what Evan Longoria, Wade Davis, James Shields, Kelly Shoppach, Ben Zobrist and, of course, Raymond have to say about reading, be sure to get your copy of Reading with the Rays: Read your way to the ballpark which will be in your St. Petersburg Times and tbt* newspapers on June 17. If you miss that edition of the newspaper, you can pick up a copy of the publication at your local library.
Click here to download a copy of the Reading with the Rays publication.
