The Rays announced Friday their 2008 ticket prices will stay mostly the same as the 2007 prices. But to encourage fans to buy their tickets in advance, they will add a $2 surcharge to all day-of-game tickets sold within five hours of first pitch.

Otherwise, all ticket prices are the same except outfield seats, which were reduced by $1 (from $22 to $21 for prime games and $17 to $16 for others), and upper deck seats, which were increased by $1 (from $13 to $14 and $8 to $9). As is now standard among teams, they charge more for "prime" games - the 18 against the Yankees and Red Sox and (this year) three against the Cubs.

The Rays had planned to end their two-year program of free parking, but instead went "green" and will offer it to carpoolers - vehicles with four or more passengers. For vehicles with less than four passengers, the parking fee will be $10, same as it was in 2005.

After the 2006 season, the Rays made what appeared a slight overall increase - raising the average price, by their calculations, less than a dollar, from $22.35 to $23.19. But prices in 14 of 18 seating categories went up, including all prime games.

The free parking was originally a one-year offering by new principal owner Stuart Sternberg, and then was extended to a second season.

Ticket prices:
                                                       Prime         Regular
                                                      Games (21) Games (60)

Upper Deck/*tbt Party Deck                 $14                 $9
Outfield                                             $21                 $16
Loge Box                                            $38                 $22
Baseline Box                                       $38                 $22
Press Level                                        $45                  $26
Lower Box                                          $55                 $40
Lower Infield Box                                $70                 $52
Fieldside Box                                     $115                $85
Whitney Bank Club                             $150              $110
Home Plate Club                                $270               $210