Welcome to sunny Tropicana Field!
You can't tell from this picture, but it's actually raining!
The fabric dome is amazing!
During the game we nicknamed it The Thunder Dome (you can guess why!)
The seating area of Tropicana reminds us a lot of the Arena at the Oakland Coliseum.
It is an intimate-feeling stadium, and a very pleasant place to watch a game with constant 72 degree air-conditioning and no chance of rain-outs.
The concession and activity areas are all away from the field of play, in back hallways.
These areas resemble a cross between an airport and an aquarium.
And the stingray touch-pool really added to the aquarium effect.
But it was a fun theme-centered attraction, not found at other parks.
Like most small-market teams, the Rays do a lot to support (if not entertain) their fans.
Here are some examples we have not seen before:
- National Anthem in sign-language
- a special suite for foster children and adoption events
- donated tickets to veterans
- in addition to the "play ball" kid, the Rays also have a kid bring the official ball and rosin bag to the mound
- at batting practice, ushers blow a whistle to warn people of incoming balls
- at selected games, there is a free concert following the game. This Saturday's game is the OJ's
- soft-drink cup covers
The Rays stadium shows they have a sense of humor, and the jokes continue during play, with puns like, "Rays the roof," and "go cRayzy" There is very little in-between-innings entertainment. But very little is needed. There was so little time between innings we wondered if the game was even televised.
Although the Rays home park lacked some of the amenities we usually look for in a ballpark, we, surprisingly, really enjoyed our game here at Tropicana Field.
Next stop: Schrader's Little Cooperstown
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