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Rays double-down on St. Pete food, drink and vibe at the Trop

ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays may have set their sights on moving to Tampa, but this season the team is doubling down on the good eats available in their current hometown.

When the team starts celebrating its 20th anniversary season Thursday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox, fans in sold-out Tropicana Field will run a tasty new gauntlet of smothered, melty, piled-high menu options from St. Petersburg restaurants.

TAMPA BAY TIMES LOOKS BACK AT 20 YEARS OF THE RAYS All 20 top 20 lists commemorating the anniversary

Locals who visit the new First Base Food Hall will recognize The Avenue’s sliders, King’s Street Food Counter’s pork-filled "mac & cheesus" melt and the crispy firecracker shrimp from St.