Tropicana Field

Tropicana_Field

Tropicana Field

The Trop
250px Tropicana Field in 2018
Location	St. Petersburg, Florida
Coordinates	27°46′2″N 82°39′48″W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed.
Owner	City of St. Petersburg
Operator	Tampa Bay Rays
Capacity	25,000 (1990)
Record attendance	47,150 (2008 World Series)
Surface	AstroTurf
Construction
Broke ground	November 22, 1986
Opened	March 3, 1990
Construction cost	$130 million
Architect	HOK Sport
Structural engineer	Walter P Moore
Services engineer	Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.
General contractor	Huber, Hunt & Nichols
Tenants
Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) (1998–present)

Tropicana Field is a domed stadium located in St. Petersburg, Florida. It has been the home of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB) since the team's inception in 1998. The stadium was originally known as the Florida Suncoast Dome and was later renamed the Thunderdome before acquiring its current name through a naming rights agreement with the Tropicana Products company.

History

Construction of Tropicana Field began on November 22, 1986, and the stadium officially opened on March 3, 1990. The stadium was initially built to attract a Major League Baseball team to the Tampa Bay area. Before the arrival of the Tampa Bay Rays, the stadium hosted various events, including Arena Football League games and concerts.

Design and Features

Tropicana Field features a fixed dome roof, which provides protection from the frequent rainstorms in the area. The stadium's surface is made of AstroTurf, a type of artificial turf. The seating capacity of Tropicana Field is approximately 25,000 for baseball games, but it can be expanded for other events.

One of the unique features of Tropicana Field is the presence of the Rays Touch Tank, an interactive exhibit where fans can touch live rays. The stadium also includes a 10,000-gallon fish tank behind the right-center field wall.

Events

In addition to hosting Tampa Bay Rays games, Tropicana Field has been the site of several notable events, including the 2008 World Series and the 1999 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four. The stadium has also hosted concerts, trade shows, and other sporting events.

Transportation and Access

Tropicana Field is accessible by car, with several parking lots available around the stadium. Public transportation options include the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) buses, which provide service to the stadium.

Future Plans

There have been discussions about the future of Tropicana Field, including potential renovations or the construction of a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. These plans are still in the early stages, and no definitive decisions have been made.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball stadiums
• Tampa Bay Rays
• St. Petersburg, Florida