The Devil Rays have conducted Spring Training in St. Petersburg since their inception, but this will be their first Spring Training under the new ownership group and its new leadership in baseball operations.

Exciting youngsters such as Carl Crawford, Jorge Cantu, Scott Kazmir and Rocco Baldelli, coupled with established veterans like Julio Lugo, Aubrey Huff, and Travis Lee, will give Rays fans plenty to watch during the spring.

New manager Joe Maddon enters his first season as a Major League manager with the Rays are coming off a stellar second half of the 2005 season that saw the team post a 39-34 mark, which reflected an improvement of 219 percentage points over their record before the All-Star break.

As Rays fans prepare for their journey to the Florida sunshine, here are some questions and answers that should help:

When do the Rays arrive at camp?
The Rays' pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 16, with the position players following on Feb. 21. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 22.

When do games start?
The Rays open their 30-game Grapefruit League schedule on March 2 with a trip to Dunedin to face the Blue Jays, marking the first time since 2001 the Rays will open their Major League spring schedule on the road.

Highlights of the home schedule include a March 9 game against the Braves, a date with the defending American League East champion New York Yankees on March 25 and two contests with the Red Sox (March 6 and 16). The Rays will also play two night games: March 23 (Toronto) and March 24 (Cincinnati).

The Rays play their spring finale at Tropicana Field for the second straight year when they host the Tigers on April 1.

How do I get tickets?
Individual tickets for games at Progress Energy Park, home of Al Lang Field, are on sale at the Tropicana Field Box Office, via the Rays' official Web site at www.devilrays.com, the Devil Rays Dugout at WestShore Plaza, all Ticketmaster locations, and via Ticketmaster Phonecharge. The numbers to call are (727) 898-RAYS in Pinellas and (813) 282-RAYS in Hillsborough. Advanced tickets will not be sold at Progress Energy Park, home of Al Lang Field.

Progress Energy Park holds 6,500 fans, including about 300 on the berm along the right-field line and 150 along the left-field line, always popular spots for families. The stadium also has some seating in the shade, as well as a fully stocked concession stand on the outer concourse.

How do I get to St. Petersburg?
If you're coming from the north or the south of St. Petersburg, I-275 is the best route to take to the Rays' complex or Progress Energy Park. There are many non-stop flights from all over the country into Tampa International Airport, which has easy access to I-275.

The Raymond A. Naimoli Baseball Complex is located at 7901 30th Ave. North. From I-275 take the 22nd Ave. North exit (No. 12) and proceed 5.4 miles to 80th St. North. Make a right on 80th St. North and proceed a half-mile to the complex, which is located on the right where 80th St. North intersects with 30th Ave. North.

To get to Progress Energy Park from Tampa, take I-275 to Exit 9 and follow that east to the ballpark.

How can I watch the team work out?
There is no admission to see the Rays work out on their fields at the Raymond A. Naimoli Baseball Complex. Detailed rosters of the Major Leaguers will be available for no charge; the Minor Leaguers will report to the complex in early March.

Before the start of the Grapefruit League schedule -- while the Major League team is still working out at the complex -- the players hit the field at 9:30 a.m. Workouts last until early afternoon. Once the games begin, the Rays will take batting practice until 11:20 a.m. prior to home day games and up until 5:20 p.m. prior to home night games.

Where can I get some autographs?
If they're finished with their work for the day, you might catch players heading back to the clubhouse. Once games start, the seats down the right-field line and around the home dugout and on the first-base side are prime autograph spots. Or players can sometimes be caught heading to the parking lot.

What else is there to do in St. Petersburg?
There is plenty to do in St. Petersburg, from visiting the Salvador Dali Museum to the many beaches and restaurants. Visitors can also travel north to Clearwater or east to Tampa to find hundreds of shops, restaurants and hotels.

For more information on St. Petersburg, visit the city's Web site, www.stpete.org

When do the Devil Rays open the regular season?
On April 3, the Devil Rays will open their season against the Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore at 3:05 p.m. The home opener at Tropicana Field takes place on April 10 against the Orioles; the time is TBA.