02 September, 2017
"We were willing to play this series anywhere the Astros and Major League Baseball wanted, including here in Arlington". The Astros will be the home team for the three-game series at the stadium of the Tampa Bay Rays.
"Nineteen-day trips are never easy, if that's what it turns out to be, but it's also a time when you want to be there with all the chaos going on in Houston", Astros broadcaster Todd Kalas said.
"The safety of our fans, players and staff remain our main priority", Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan said in a statement. Some Astros fans wore orange T-shirts, one Rangers fan showed up wearing a Dak Prescott football jersey, and a handful of people showed up in Tampa Bay Rays gear.
Ticket prices for the series were priced at $10 per game, with open seating in the lower bowl. "In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by the Hurricane".
The Rangers ownership group and front office announced earlier this week a $1 million donation toward Harvey relief efforts along the Texas gulf coast. The Astros are also likely to play this weekend's series against the Mets at Tropicana. The Rangers flew to Dallas after they ended their a series against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Eliminating that would have ensured 24 consecutive game days to end the season for both teams.
It remains unclear how long the Astros will be displaced, as Houston continues to be pounded by heavy rains as a result of Hurricane Harvey. A decision is expected by Wednesday. The storm is almost stationary and is expected to continue dropping heavy rains the next few days.
The Astros were involved as well in 2008, when two scheduled home games against the Chicago Cubs were moved to Milwaukee because of Hurricane Ike.
Both teams are off Monday, which gives them and Major League Baseball the chance to make contingency plans for the series. Items will be collected at the Home Plate, First Base, Third Base, and Center Field gates on Friday from 4-7:30 p.m.; Saturday from 3-6:45 p.m.; and Sunday from 12-2:30 p.m. "When we found out this morning they were playing here, they were like, 'Oh, we have to go!'"
"Most of us are going to Dallas with an expectation that this whole series is going to be disrupted". The proceeds will used for relief for the victims in the Houston area and South Texas. In that event, the Astros and Rangers' only mutual off day for a potential makeup game would have been September 18, the last day off in the regular season for both teams. "We pray for their safety in these very hard circumstances".
