Tropicana Field Overview
Let’s be frank—years from now, none of us will huddle around the grandkids sharing wistful stories of baseball games we saw at Tropicana Field. But let’s also be fair—the Tampa Bay Rays organization has done an astounding job of turning the “tin can” hand they were dealt into a surprisingly entertaining experience, and one that you should definitely come and see.
From unique experiences like a live stingray tank, to catwalks and O-rings in the sky that make baseballs do funny things, to the Rays’ surprisingly outstanding concession offerings, you shouldn’t judge this book by its cover. Oh, and, of course, the Trop is comfortably air-conditioned all season long. Yes, you come to Florida for the sunshine… but that doesn’t mean you want to catch a ballgame in stifling humidity and thunderstorms.
Our five-part guide to Tropicana Field will help you plan the perfect trip to see baseball in St. Petersburg. We’ll cover:
- Travel: Getting to Tampa/St. Pete
- Lodging: Where you should stay
- Local Transit: How you should get to/from the ballpark
- Ticketing/Seating/Premium: Where to sit, how to buy, and whether to opt for premium seating
- Gameday: What to do before/during/after the game
We hope you enjoy our Tropicana Field Insider guide. Please be sure to sign up for our free newsletter to keep informed about events, schedules, onsales, ticket deals, and everything else you need to know to plan the best fan experiences.
Why you should visit Tropicana Field
Stingray Tank
One of the most unique features in all of baseball. Where else can you pet a stingray between innings?
Exciting Baseball
The Rays are a perennial playoff team, so more often than not you’re going to see some top-flight baseball.
Randy Land
Every Friday, two left field sections are dedicated to the Rays’ always exciting All-Star leftfielder Randy Arozarena. If you’re sitting there and he hits a home run, you get a beer!
Florida
You’ve seen the postcards: palm trees, beaches, and endless sunshine. A trip to St. Petersburg isn’t just about baseball; it’s a ticket to paradise.
How many games should you see?
We recommend two games at Tropicana Field to get the full experience. Aside from the things to see around the building, tickets are affordable, giving you the chance to see your team up close for a pretty fair price. And we also have some interesting premium seating options that aren’t as expensive as they might be at other stadiums. Plus, if you’re a true baseball fanatic, Florida is home to the Grapefruit League, so you might want to spend a third day in the area to catch a Florida State League game in one of the four spring training stadiums in the Tampa Bay area: Dunedin (Blue Jays), Clearwater (Phillies), Tampa (Yankees) and Bradenton (Pirates).
When should you go to Tropicana Field?
All hail the dome! Because of it, you’ll never get wet or sweaty watching a game, so from a purely baseball perspective, whenever your schedule allows, you’ll be certain to catch a comfortable game. But you’re not just coming to St. Petersburg for baseball—you’re coming for the sun, sand, palm trees, and drinks with little umbrellas in them. And because of that, you’ll likely find April and September more comfortable than the summer months when it is sticky hot outside and you can almost set your watch to the daily thunderstorm. But this is Florida, so no matter when you’re here, it’ll be shorts and T-shirts weather, and you’ll have a great time.
Where is Tropicana Field located?
Rays fans love rolling their eyes when national TV broadcasters say “we’re coming to you from sunny Tampa.” But they’re not! They’re actually coming to you from St. Petersburg, which is across Tampa Bay (the body of water) from Tampa (the city). Which means that St. Petersburg is its own place with a lively mix of restaurants, bars, and shops and, as it turns out, a Major League Baseball team and stadium. Oh, and it also happens to be where all of “Tampa’s” amazing beaches are! So when you’re looking for us on the map, find Tampa, and then look to the left—we’re a 20-minute drive west and south of Tampa International Airport.
About your Tropicana Field Insider
Baseball fanatic? Guilty as charged! I’m Scott, and as a native of Ohio, I grew up a Reds fan during the Big Red Machine era, never missing an episode of Johnny Bench’s “The Baseball Bunch.” But when I traded shoveling snow for sand between my toes in 2001, I adopted the Tampa Bay Rays as my new team. I was in the Trop for the thrilling Game 7 ALCS win over the Red Sox in 2008, and Game 1 of the World Series a few days later. I’ve also been at the Trop for many, many, many less exciting losses during the lonely early years of the franchise.
In 2016, I completed a quest to see every MLB ballpark that started as a kid on vacation walking into Dodger Stadium. For me, there’s nothing better than a hot dog in one hand and a beer in the other at a ballpark, and I’m excited to be your tour guide to the home of one of the most electric teams in all of baseball.
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We hope you enjoy this insider look at Tropicana Field.
