When I went to St Petersburg, FL in 2011, I stopped at “The Trop,” aka Tropicana Field (a multi-purpose domed stadium ) to watch baseball. This arena used to house the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning, so previous name was Thunderdome (1993 - 1996), until they moved to better digs in downtown Tampa. To say I was underwhelmed is putting it lightly. The Trop opened in 1990, used as a ballpark since 1998, and renovated in 2014. This ballpark has the smallest seating capacity (42, 735 seats) of all MLB ballparks. It uses Shaw Sports Turf for its field. This ballpark is located 24 miles away from Tampa (largest population in area), so it is a drive to get there. Unique features are the catwalks, the slanted roof (indoor only arena, non retractable), and interior environment with a warehouse feel and an aquarium with stingrays in outfield.
Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Rays were swept by the Texas Rangers at home in wild card round. Attendance at this postseason game on Oct 4, 2023 was 20,198 fans, the lowest playoff attendance since 1919. The Tampa Bay Rays, founded as an expansion team in 1998 (known as Tampa Bay Devil Rays), compete in the American League East division with Yankees and Red Sox. They have 2 American League pennants (2008, 2020), but no World Series titles. I sincerely feel for this franchise, for they waited 3 decades for a team. It seems like the Rays have outstanding regular seasons (eg. winning records, over .5 ball), but time after time do not have enough to get to the end goal, winning a championship.
This 2023 team which is now out of it as of yesterday illustrates my point. The team has playoff caliber pitching, but I do not think they have the offense or a big star to depend upon. Is it because Tampa Rays do not want to win? Tampa Bay has reached an agreement recently to build a brand new baseball only stadium for the Rays in St Petersburg. Now my question is will building it cause people in area to support the team. If the Rays do not spend the money to attract big stars (creating offense), it will be more of the same. They will get in the playoffs but only make a ripple. The Rays are a good team but stuck in the middle (good, not great). How depressing if you are a Rays fan!
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