The Tampa Bay Rays are set to start their season this weekend. This year, there are a lot of new things to check out at the Trop from the food to the merchandise to the concession areas.

  • Tropicana undergoes renovation in time for Rays 20th anniv.
  • Concessions to offer diverse food choices, self-serve stations
  • Goal is to make the Trop a food destination

"Fans should really check out the whole building from the food halls to the concourses because everything is new," said Bill Walsh, Rays Vice President of Strategy and Development.

As the Rays celebrate their 20th anniversary, the newly renovated team store has several new items to celebrate the milestone.

But some of the real stars this year are the new food items. Chicago-based caterer Levy has taken over food service this year and has several mouth watering choices for all types of tastes like pulled pork hot dogs, nachos, meatball sandwiches and Cuban sandwiches.

"We've got a lot of fan favorite items here, but we've kinda just taken the fan favorites and ramped them up a little bit if you will," explained Regional Executive Chef John Nicely.

Several local eateries are also offering food at the brand new concession areas throughout the stadium.

There's also a new way to order your food this year -- instead of waiting in line at the counter, you can go to one of the 22 self-service stations in the stadium and order your food on your own.

“It's one of the largest pilots and installations of this technology actually in the entire country, so it's really on the cutting edge of new technology. Within 30-45 seconds their order will be ready at a pickup location nearby," Walsh explained.

The goal is to make it more appealing for fans to see the trop as a food destination.

"It's different, it's a change I think the stadium really needed that and wanted that. It gives people the want to come to the park and have food here instead of trying to eat out before they come," Nicely said.

In terms of price, the food will cost about the same as it has in year's past. Opening day is Thursday when the Rays take on the Boston Red Sox.