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Tropicana Field Experience
Tampa Bay, FL - 4/8/2005
by: Anthony Lorenzo

For the second leg of our Sun Belt Ballpark Tour, Mike and I drove 240 miles northwest along Florida’s alligator alley, to St. Petersburg Florida, home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  The Devil Rays make their home in Tropicana Field, built in 1990 to attract a Major League Franchise to Florida’s west coast.  Three teams, the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, and San Francisco Giants, leveraged a possible move to St. Petersburg against the city in which they played to obtain a new stadium deal.  These moves left St. Petersburg without a Major League Baseball team.  Tropicana Field, then known as the Suncoast Dome, was utilized for hockey; the Tampa Bay Lightning set a NHL Playoff attendance record while playing in the Dome, Arena Football, and concerts.  The largest even held at the Dome was the 1999 NCAA Final Four, which also set an attendance record.  These attendance records, along with the success of minor league and spring training baseball in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area was enough to establish the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization, which took the field for the 1998 season.

Since their inception the Devil Rays have struggled to find an identity.  Their best season was 2004, when they finished 71-91.  Champagne was uncorked to celebrate their fourth place finish.  This losing culture permeates to the fans, only 10,223 fans where in attendance for the 7:15 game that Mike and I attended between the Devil Rays and Oakland Athletics.  The lack of fans gave Mike and I the opportunity to take in the game from numerous angles.  Tropicana Field is a domed ballpark located in sunny Florida.  This may sound odd, but a dome is necessary to guard against the afternoon showers that have become customary along Florida’s left coast.  Some would say a retractable roof ballpark would solve this problem, but the Devil Rays do not have enough fan support to warrant a new ballpark that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars.  In my opinion, the next three seasons will determine the Devil Rays future.  Over the years they have drafted some of the best prospects in baseball.  It is time for these players to step up and save this troubled franchise.

I was excited to see the young Devil Rays in action.  They currently have one of the most exciting players in the game, outfielder Carl Crawford.  Crawford led the American League in stolen bases, 2003 & 2004, and triples, 2004.  His ability to generate runs should be something the Devil Rays build around.  The cover of the Devil Rays Magazine asks the question “The Best Young Nucleus in Baseball?” In addition to Crawford the Devil Rays have Aubrey Huff OF/DH/1B, Rocco Baldelli CF, B.J. Upton SS, Delmon Young OF, Jorge Cantu 2B, Scott Kazmir SP, Wade Townsend SP, Jeff Niemann SP, and Seth McClung RP to build around.  No other team in baseball has this number of potential All-Stars.  Lou Piniella who is currently in his third year as Devil Rays manager will hopefully manage these players.  Sweet Lou brought instant credibility, to the Devil Rays organization, but the lack of support from ownership has put his future with the team in doubt. I hope to see the Devil Rays develop over the next few seasons, giving something to fans of St. Petersburg deserve: a winner.

I was happy to witness a Devil Rays win, as they defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-2 in 10 innings.  Devil Ray second baseman Jorge Cantu hit his third home run of the young season and closer Danys Baez wiggled out of a 9^th inning bases loaded situation to keep the score tied at 2.  Centerfield speedster Joey Gathright led the bottom of the 10^th off with a triple, later scoring on a Nick Green’s game winning single. Seeing a Devil Rays win was terrific, but seeing the Tropicana Field roof turn orange, to signify the win, was even better.

I enjoyed my night in St. Petersburg.  Mike and I had time to visit the St. Petersburg Pier.  It is the South Street Seaport of St. Petersburg. The Pier offers some great dining choices.  I was looking forward to having lunch at the Columbia Restaurant; it offers authentic Cuban like no other. Mike and I also visited Ferg’s Sports Bar, located outside of Tropicana Field.  It was a bar for all ages, kids playing air hockey, senior citizens drinking white wine, and college kids playing pool.  In my opinion Ferg’s symbolizes the St. Petersburg area.  St. Petersburg is a place where people of all ages come to have a good time.  It is an area that has a New York influence; many New Yorkers have retired to the area, without the New York attitude.  After spending time there I wish the Devil Rays and their fans nothing but the best as they continue to find their way to success on and off the field.

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