Tropicana Field Information

Tropicana Field
One Tropicana Drive • St. Petersburg, FL 33705

Tropicana Field is a domed stadium located in St. Petersburg, Florida and has been the home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays since 1998.

The ballpark’s construction began in 1986. The stadium was originally built as the Florida Suncoast Dome and was used as an attempt to get the Chicago White Sox to relocate, however Chicago decided to build a New Comiskey Park now known as US Cellular Field. The stadium was completed in 1990, but didn’t have any tenants. It finally gained a tenant in 1993 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay Lightning made the Suncoast Dome their home for three seasons and in the process it was renamed the Thunderdome. The Tampa Bay Storm also played there during the Thunderdome era as well.

In 1995, the dome received a new tenant when MLB expanded to the Tampa Bay area. Changes were made to the stadium and the name was changed to Tropicana Field when Tropicana Products purchased the naming rights in 1996. A $70 million renovation took place and the first regular season baseball game took place on March 31, 1998, when the Devil Rays faced the Detroit Tigers losing 11-6.

The ballpark was initially built with an AstroTurf surface, but was replaced in 2000 by FieldTurf, becoming the first professional facility to use it. Tropicana is the only field to have an artificial surface with all-dirt base paths.

Tropicana Field is the only professional sports facility that features live cownose rays. The Rays Touch Tank opened in 2006 and is located just behind the right centerfield wall. Through a partnership with Florida Aquarium there are over 30 rays that fans can touch and feed throughout the game. If a player hits a home run into the tank the organization will donate $5,000 to charity, $2,500 to the Florida Aquarium and $2,500 to the player’s charity of choice.

Upcoming Events
Tampa Bay Blue Devil Rays Baseball

Tropican Field 2007 Specials

April Specials: Rays Thermal Mug, Schedule Magnet, Tropicana Field Replica, Mascot Mania, Superheroes Night, Superheroes Day, 10th Season Cowbell
May Specials: Beach Night, Cinco de Mayo, Circus Day, Wrestling Night, Country Night, Youth Baseball Day
June Specials: Parrothead Night, Pirate Night Rays Beads & Bandanas, Zoo Day Rays Pull-n-Go Toy, Parks & Rec Day Akinori Iwamura Cheer Stix, NASCAR Night Rays Soft Cooler, Turn Back the Clock Night Don Zimmer Turn Back the Clock Bobblehead, Women in Baseball Rays Backpack
July Specials: Festival Latino Rays Maracas, Military Appreciation Day Rays Red, White, & Blue T-Shirt, Parks and Rec Day Sting Em’ Rays Hand Clapper, Mardi Gras Night Rays Beads, Flower Power Night Rays Tie Dye T-Shirt, Cartoon Day Carl Crawford Action Figure
August Specials: College Alumni Rays Blues FlexFit Hat, Hall of Fame Night Scott Kazmir Game Used Jersey Card, Video Game Day Rays Lunch Box, Disco Night Rocco Baldelli Figurine Stitch ‘N Pitch, Back to School Day Rays Baseball Alarm Clock, African-American Heritage Night Delmon Young Figurine, Raymond’s Birthday Raymond Bank
September Specials: 80’s Night Fan Vote Figurine, Sci-Fi Day Fan Vote Jersey T-Shirt, ½ way to St. Patty Day Rays Leprechaun Hat, Oktoberfest Rays Mug, Autograph Day Wiffle Ball Set

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Weather
Fans visiting Tropicana Field will always enjoy comfortable weather conditions inside that is, being that the complex is an indoor facility. Outside though, may be a different story. The Tampa Bay area recieves around 55 inches of rain fall a year with 60% of that occuring between May and September!

Concessions
The Batter's Eye Restaurant
The place to be when you're ready for a full buffet and a full view of the action. The Batter's Eye is the only restaurant in the Major Leagues in straightaway center field. Seating is available prior to the game on a first-come, first-served basis. A second seating (reservations recommended) is 15 minutes before games. Located on the upper level of Center Field St.

Rays Bullpen Café
Sit in the action. Directly behind the Rays' Bullpen, this section offers picnic-style seating. Entry requires a $20 minimum food and beverage purchase per person. The café is on the field level in the right field corner. The entrance is near the Taste of Tampa Bay food court at the end of Right Field Street.

Budweiser Brew House
Whether its for a postgame relief pitcher or a lunchtime burger, you'll find the Budweiser Brew House to be one of downtown St. Petersburg's most refreshing and easily accessible eateries, even for large groups. The Brew House is open two hours before game time until an hour after the game ends

Cuesta-Rey Cigar Bar
The only cigar bar at a major league ballpark. Watch the game on TV from leather chairs and sofas while you savor cigars that aficionados recognize to be among the finest produced. A great place to meet before, during or after a game, it's on the upper level of Center Field Street across from The Batter's Eye Restaurant.

Tropicana Room
The Tropicana room is the most versatile venue in the stadium; featuring a buffet with carved meats, pastas salads and more at all evening games and brunch at all early afternoon games. The Tropicana Room, on the Mezzanine level behind home plate, is available on gamedays to fans with a Field Box, Lower Club Box, Diamond Club or suite tickets.

Parking
Make your entrance, and exit, as convenient as possible whenever you drive to Tropicana Field. Three parking lots (1, 6A and 7A) offer disabled parking spaces just outside the gates, with the majority of the spaces located in lots 6A and 7A.

Three of the parking lots closest to the ballpark have designated areas for disabled parking. All disabled parking is van-accessible. Enter lot 6A off of First Avenue South of 10th Street South, lot 7A off Fourth Avenue South, and lot 1 off 16th Street South. In addition, Gate 4 is on Tropicana Drive directly across 16th Street from lot 1, which accommodates fans who prefer to be dropped of just yards from an entrance.

Tropicana Field Seating Chart

(Click for Larger view of Venue)

Directions
Topicana Field is located directly east of interstate 275 in St. Petersburg. I-275 is the main interstate highway that runs north and south through Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Tampa International Airport feeds directly onto I-275. The dome is visible from the highway. I-375 and I-175 both veer off of interstate 275 and feed into Tropicana Field.

From Tampa (north)
Take I-275 South and follow the signs to Exit 22

From St. Petersburg (south)
Take 1-275 North to Exit 22 and follow the signs.

From points North and East
South on I-275 to Exit 22. To avoid traffic, take Exit #24, travel east on 22nd Ave. North and then south on 16th Street, Martin Luther King (9th Street), or 4th Street.

From Clearwater/N. Pinellas
South on McMullen Booth Road or US 19, proceed East to I-275 south, or less congested alternatives of 16th Street, Martin Luther King (9th Street) or 4th Street.

From points South
North on I-275 to Exit 22. To avoid traffic, take exit #19 to 22nd Ave. South and head North on 16th Street, Martin Luther King (9th Street), or 4th Street. p>From South Pinellas beaches
Take Treasure Island or pasadena Ave. to 1st Ave. South or take the Pinellas Bayway to I-275 Northbound.

Tips

Prepare for the weather, it could change
Know how to get to and from the stadium
Arrive early
Remember which parking lot you are in
Bring some extra cash
DON’T forget your tickets!

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