Tampa Rays Celebration draws patient crowd of fans

TAMPA -- About 350 people have turned out with coolers, folding chairs and kids sporting mohawks at Tampa's Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park to watch the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Detroit Tigers on a giant screen.

Initially the giant screen had some problems. For about 45 minutes, as city workers adjusted the jumbo set, the crowd had no picture, so fans listened to the game on the radio. A few drifted over to the St. Pete Times Forum, where the game is being projected on the side of the building.

Then, about 8 p.m., the screen came to life. The weather is balmy, the grass is green, and the game is there in living color.

The park is at 601 St. Pete Times Forum Drive, next to the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel.

Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer