Photo via StPete.org

Affectionately called “the Trop” by most ‘Burgers, the home field for the Tampa Bay Rays ranked last in USA Today’s “In the Ballpark” series, which lists each Major League Baseball stadium from best to worst.

Tropicana Field came in at number 30, last place. After reading a few of the reviews of other stadiums, it seems clear that the rankings were decided specifically due to the structure of the stadium and not the overall game experience.

The biggest complaint about the Trop was that it is a closed dome, the only one of its kind of all MLB ballparks and the second largest cable supported dome in the world (Georgia Dome is the largest). The other closed stadiums have retractable roofs. At least the Rays never have to worry about a home game getting rained out, right? 

Have you ever driven past the Trop on I-275 after they’ve won a game? The dome glows bright orange adding to the beautiful skyline of downtown St. Pete. The slanted stadium itself is magical, and although some complain about the design and others about its location, it is the home field for our area’s very own Major League Baseball team and we love it for that. 

There are some great things about the Trop that make Rays games exciting. No one can deny the elegance of the rotunda entrances, which have the exact blueprints as the rotundas at Ebbets Field in New York, built in 1913. The fan amenities at the Trop are extensive, with lots of food options to choose from (even gluten free!), as well as shopping and activities for kids.

The Rays Touch Tank, maintained by the Florida Aquarium, is the only interactive feature of its kind in MLB ballparks. Rays fans can pet the cownose rays for free in the 35 foot, 10,000 gallon tank near home plate. For every ball hit into the tank during a game by a Rays player, the Rays donate $5,000 to charity with $2,500 going to the Florida Aquarium and $2,500 going to that player’s charity of choice.

“The Trop is really a unique experience: the carnival atmosphere in the lower concourse level and the beautiful caricatures of the history of baseball in St. Pete and Tampa…you learn going to the Trop that, even in Florida, you don’t need fresh air and sunshine to play baseball, considering during the time most games start in the summer, there’s usually a lightning storm and 91˚ temps outside. The Trop proves you really can have just as much fun in a dome.” —StadiumJourney

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