by Being a fan of a team that is several states away from home can stink at times, it has its positives. It has allowed me to travel to different places around the country to watch my favorite team play. One of those destinations is Tropicana field home of the Tampa Bay Rays. I have been to this field twice and one of those times was only a month ago. This will be review number three and stadium number four in my journey to visit and review all 30 MLB stadiums.
Each stadium will get a letter grade depending on five different categories, Location, aesthetics, atmosphere, food, and bells and whistles. These rankings come from my experiences at the ballpark. With, your experience may differ from mine. That being said from now on these stadiums and cities are places I have only visited twice or less so I may not have gotten the full experience a diehard fan would get.
Park Info: Tropicana Field originally known as the Florida Suncoast Dome then the Thunderdome originally was opened in 1990 and the first home of the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning in 1993. In 1996 the Rays moved in, and the name Tropicana field was born. The Trop has held many events like Hockey, Baseball, basketball, football, sprint car racing, gymnastics, soccer, tennis, weightlifting, table tennis, karate, motorcycle racing, equestrian events, track, and figure skating.
Location: Do not let the name of the team fool you the Tampa Bay Rays are set outside of Tampa Bay in Saint Petersburg. Depending on your location a trip across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge may be needed, the bridge will lead you right into the city and an exit away from the parking lot. Tropicana Field has the best parking options of any stadium I have ever been to. There are your common lots further away from the stadium but the parking lot right next to the stadium is the best option. Workers will guide you right into the lot, there will most likely be more than enough parking spaces. Sadly, a parking lot can only help the location so much.
Location is a C+ due to not being in Tampa.
Aesthetics: Aesthetics will be based on how the stadium looks inside and out, grass and field dimensions will be in play as well as the background of the city.
There is no easy way to put this, Tropicana is the ugliest stadium in all of baseball. I have no problem with a dome stadium, I do have a problem with the ball getting lost or stuck in the dome. The field has many spots where it looks darker or lighter and can be flat out ugly. The fence dimensions are cookie cutter like leaving much to be desired. Each ballpark tries to nail a certain type of look, while Tropicana does not really know what to go for. Parks like PNC and Camden Yards go for a classic feel by using bricks and cement in much of the scenery while Progressive goes for a more modern futuristic look by using glass and white colors in and outside the ballpark. Tropicana mixes between those but struggles to nail any of those designs. The center and right field wall is the cause of this confusion and can be a big distraction from the entertainment on the field. One thing I loved about the ballpark was the 360-degree pedestrian circulation that allowed fans to walk all around the field with out changing levels or losing view of the game.
The walkway is not enough to save this field making Aesthetics a D
Atmosphere: Atmosphere usually depends on if the team is competitive or not. Sadly, for this team it does not seem to matter. The game I was at opened capacity back up to the fans and was the second ever start for the number one prospect in baseball Wander Franco. The stadium was nearly empty and was mainly filled with Boston supporters. No one in my section seemed to know who Wander Franco was and why he was so important. A Cleveland or Pittsburgh fan would be wearing Franco’s Jersey and would have a full scouting report on the young player. When my dad (A Pirates fan) was the only one excited for the young star I knew something was wrong. More Tampa Bay fans had Lightning Jerseys on compared to the team they were there to watch.
Atmosphere is a F
Food: Sadly, I did not get to try much of the food at the ballpark this go around. Lucky for me I had people with be that did. They had Toasted Cheese sandwiches with pulled pork. According to my father “I never had anything like it before” when comparing food to other stadiums he has been too. Every time I go to a stadium, I look for Ice cream helmets. Tropicana hits this out of the ballpark by having popcorn helmets as well. This was a highlight for me not knowing that ballparks could sell you popcorn in a giant plastic helmet.
Food is C+
Bells and Whistles: Tropicana did not have much that blew me out of the water with bells and whistles, but a few things stand out. The team shop was above average, it had something for pretty much anybody. They have collector items like signed baseballs or ever surprise packs that could be something random. Anywhere from a random foul ball to a game winning homerun, it was a luck-based system that could interest many fans. They have team records like best era, batting average, wins, and much more in the team shop. They have verification stamps at the guests’ services stand in the outfield entrance. For anyone seeing their first baseball game make sure to visit guest services for a few gifts. The biggest novelty of course is the Sting Ray tank in right field, you can stand in line and touch the Sting Rays or look from one of the standing areas above, truly one of the neatest and exclusives novelties that you will see at any ballpark.
Bells and Whistles are a solid B
Tropicana Field is sadly the most underwhelming field that a fan could visit. It is a rare instant of a good team with a bad stadium with little support from the area. If the Rays are ever given a new stadium in the city, it could be the boost the team needs to gain full support from the Tampa area.
My final grade of Tropicana Field is a D. The best part about this Stadium is that it is inside and away from the heat.
I agree, the only reason I’d really want to go is to touch the stingrays
people are stupid and greedy The trop is awesome never gets rained out, Air-conditioned , good food selection the ray tank good easy parking and other good things. But some people have to have a palace or they dont want to go to a game
I love the Trop. It’s weird. Totally Florida.
My first visit to that stadium was actually the exact same game you were at. I went because I moved to Tampa and I am a Red Sox fan. I enjoyed it but I’ve been too much better stadiums around the states.
You missed the Ted Williams museum, so called journalist.
First of all, St. Petersburg is part of Tampa Bay. The fact that you don’t know this shows your lack of understanding of our region and the Rays fans.
You’re an IDIOT! Of course it’s just outside of Tampa Bay. If it was in Tampa Bay would be underwater.
I agree. The most uninformed think “Tampa bay” means Tampa. It means the area surrounding TAMPA BAY. They are called the Tampa bay rays so they encapsulate the entire Tampa bay area. We may not have the most “lovely” stadium, but we’ve got the best team in the American league. If you spent any time on Central avenue you would have seen what a great area St. Pete is.
St. Pete is in Tampa Bay ….it would have served you better to go visit The Trop with a Rays fan who goes to a lot of games. We have great and local food selections, awesome park staff and great seating options. The Budweiser porch is a great place to meet up with friends also at the game to watch together. It’s always sunny and a cool 72 degrees. I’ve been to many other ballparks and I think your grade is way off. I would rethink the way you review standiums if I were you. How can you review food that you didn’t even try. Maybe do a little research about the location as well. Ridiculous
Our first visit to The Trop was Father’s Day 2019. The only MLB park I visited prior to that was Fenway Park in Boston. What a difference!! Fenway, a legendary park, is an old, outdated, ball park living on as a museum. There are so many view blocking columns that make seat choice a gamble at best. The parking situation is ridiculous. Food choice and service is another disappointment. When we arrived at The Trop, we drove right up to the main entrance and parked in Lot 7, a few steps from the gate. We had prepaid for parking and chose out location. Entering The Trop was magical. The pregame activities were spectacular. The musical performances going on made you move to the beat along with the Rays girls and the team mascots. The main team store was jam packed with happy and friendly fans. The attendants and service personnel were overwhelmingly friendly and helpful. We took a free tour of the Ted Williams museum which was fantastic. We had never seen such an array of unique food service options at any sports arena. Everything we tried was fantastic! Our seats were right on the field. An unbelievable view. It made our experience unforgettable. The weather in Florida in July is toasty to say the least, and unpredictable at anytime. Inside The Trop it is 72 degrees at all times. No thunderstorms here!! Leaving the parking lot was orderly and the roads led directly to the interstate. Needless to say, we were impressed!! We became instant Rays and Trop fans. We continued to frequent The Trop right through the playoffs. COVID ruined our 2920 season. When The Trop opened for “in person” attendance for the 2021 season, we returned and have been to several games, alternating our seating preferences and have NEVER been disappointed by our choices. Every seat offers a great view of the game. We LOVE The Trop and the lovely city of St Petersburg. Planned for our upcoming weekend in St Pete and will be taking in a game this weekend! Go Rays!!!⚾️
I dont mind the trop and I was born in the Tampa Bay area joined the USAF in 85 spent 20 yrs and got a very good job in St Augustine FL now but I travel to st Pete for about ten games a year and hang out on treasure Island makes for a great weekend trip its not the best ball park but who cares its good enough
Umm there is no city named Tampa Bay, it is the region we are in so your article is tainted. St Pete is a way better city.
This article is spot on except of using Tampa Bay instead of just Tampa. Compared to other stadiums the Trop lacks. It appears to be in the middle of no where with no visible night life or restraunts in eye site. I enjoy watching games there in the controlled temperature. The multi colored turf is hideous. The food is good with the toasted cheese but overall nothing special stood out to me. What got me was the lack of support for a good team. Plus I was stunned that there was not a Wander Franco shirts or jerseys for sale. Then talking to season ticket here they had no idea who he was.