The rhythmic sounds of salsa music mixed with American hits from the 1970s, '80s and '90s pulsed throughout the park, and it was apparent this would be no ordinary spring game.
"I think it's just a tremendously exciting day in baseball," Commissioner Rob Manfred said to ESPN. "We're so proud to play a small role in what we think has been a really historic week."
The locals referred to this week's visitors in Havana as "OPR," short for Obama, Pelota and the Rolling Stones, and the scene pregame before the Rays and the Cuban national team took the field lived up to the hype.