St. Petersburg, Fla. – When the 2026 World Series paired the Milwaukee Brewers with the Tampa Bay Rays, longtime fan Chrisie Lopez found herself cheering for both sides of the diamond. Lopez, who grew up in Milwaukee and moved to St. Petersburg in 2003, has watched the Rays become a staple of her new hometown while never letting go of her Brewers roots.
From Miller Park to Tropicana Field
Lopez spent her childhood at the stadium once known as Miller Park, where she recalls standing in line for free burgers during a winning streak. “In Milwaukee, standing in line when we were kids for free burgers, the one time that they did something really good,” she said. “I think it was like some winning streak.”
After relocating to Florida, Lopez became a regular at Tropicana Field. Family members often passed along tickets, allowing her to study for school while watching the game. “I would take my schooling and go study over while I was waiting for the game to start, and then I’d watch the game, and I’d go home, and it would just kind of flourish from there,” she explained.
Rays rise and a fan’s loyalty deepens
The Rays’ first World Series appearance in 2008 cemented Lopez’s affection for the team. She remembers the excitement of the 2008 ALCS, recalling a moment when shortstop Evan Longoria celebrated on the field. “I remember being lucky enough to be there for them clinching and seeing Evan Longoria pound the mat on the side when we clinched one of the playoffs,” Lopez said. “And then, I was there for when we won the 2008 ALCS.”
Lopez says the camaraderie among Rays fans and the team’s dynamic spirit won her over. “The power of friendship,” she said. “It really feels like it is the powerful friendship. They like each other, they congratulate each other. The first one’s out of the dugout to high five.”
Keeping both teams close to the heart
Even as she supports the Rays, Lopez never forgets her Brewers heritage. She proudly wears a Rays jersey she purchased years ago that still bears the name “Brewer” on the back, a nod to her Milwaukee upbringing.
World Series hopes and community spirit
When the Rays entered the 2026 postseason after a slow start, many pundits counted them out. Lopez believes that criticism gave the team a “chip on the shoulder” that fueled their comeback. “It gave a chip on the shoulder to the Rays organization, the players and coaching staff to go, ‘This is what they think of us? Let’s show them,'” she said.
She was moved to tears as the Rays clinched the ALCS, securing a spot in the franchise’s third World Series – a series that would also feature the Brewers. “I don’t know if you remember from the movie *Big Daddy* where he’s playing cards with Adam Sandler, and he’s like, ‘You’re changing the rules,’ and he’s like, ‘But I win.’ That’s what I feel like. I feel like I win,” Lopez laughed.
Looking ahead
Beyond the excitement of the championship, Lopez hopes the victory can lift spirits in St. Petersburg, a community still recovering from recent neighborhood damage. “It would be really awesome if, as St. Petersburg actually, and witnessing what happened to a lot of people’s homes and living there, we don’t deserve anything, but it would be great to have this, especially before we leave Tropicana,” she said.
Lopez’s story underscores how sports can bridge hometown pride and new‑city belonging, uniting fans across state lines as they rally behind their teams and their community.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
