Rays dedicating Pride Night to Orlando shooting victims

The Tampa Bay Rays, the baseball team closest in proximity to the deadly Orlando nightclub shooting, are hoping to fill their ballpark on Pride Night as a way to raise funds for the victims and help their community grieve.

According to the Rays’ official website, all available seats for Friday’s 7:10 p.m. game against the San Francisco Giants became available for $5 each Tuesday.

Proceeds from the team’s daily 50/50 raffle will also go to the fund and the Rays will have other donation centers set up around Tropicana Field.

The team will also have blood donations buses outside of Tropicana Field for both Friday and Saturday’s games, while both teams will observe a moment of silence where each name will be displayed on the jumbotron inside the stadium. All of the willing donors will receive a OneBlood T-Shirt, along with a voucher for two tickets to any 2016 Rays regular-season game. “When you think about how many people were affected, we want to make sure to getting their lives back to whole”.

As a symbol of unity and inclusion, everyone in attendance at Fridays game will receive a “We Are Orlando” T-shirt.

“We are grateful for and proud of the region’s response to our Pride Night dedication”, said Rays President Brian Auld.

The national anthem and “God Bless America” will performed by Una Voce, the Florida Men’s Chorale.

Parking will be $5 in Rays controlled parking lots.

For those not in the know, the Orlando Rays used to be Tampa Bay’s Double-A affiliate – back before that honor went instead to the Montgomery Biscuits.

While victims of the Orlando mass shooting are still recovering and the families of those lost begin to say their final goodbyes, the sports world is paying tribute to those lost and hurting while reminding everyone that love will win.

Former MLB player Billy Bean, who is openly gay, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and MLB announced it will donate $100,000 to the Orlando fund.