How the Rays are helping in aftermath of Orlando nightclub shooting

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.

The Rays announced Tuesday that every open seat at Tropicana Field for their previously scheduled Pride Night on Friday would now cost just $5. And all the proceeds from those $5 tickets would go to the Pulse Victim Fund, which is aiming to raise $5 million for the 49 people murdered early Sunday morning at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.

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The money will help, but the idea behind the gesture is even bigger. The Rays say they want to “celebrate unity and inclusion.” A ballpark full of fans on Pride Night — which is still controversial in many MLB cities — would send a strong message, one that goes beyond simple “tolerance” of the LGBT community and instead emphasizes inclusion and communal grieving.

Other MLB teams have adjusted their Pride Nights to honor the victims of the Orlando shooting — the A’s, for instance, dedicated their Pride Night on Tuesday to the victims — but the Rays are closest to Orlando, and thus theirs is the community impacted the most.

The Rays are also giving away “We Are Orlando” T-shirts with a rainbow version of their logo to all fans who come to Friday’s game. Other activities planned for the game include:

Proceeds from the team’s daily 50/50 raffle will also benefit the Pulse Victims Fund and additional donation centers will be located at the ballpark.

OneBlood will hold blood drives at Tropicana Field starting at 4 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. for Saturday’s 4:10 game. Donors will receive a OneBlood T-shirt and a pair of tickets to a future Rays game.

The National Anthem and God Bless America will performed by Una Voce, the Florida Men’s Chorale.

There will be a video pre-recorded by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Major League Baseball’s Vice President of Social Responsibility and Inclusion Billy Bean will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and Senior Vice President, Diversity and Strategic Alliances Wendy Lewis will also be in attendance.