Grading MLB stadiums has always been a subjective exercise.
Some people like indoor stadiums, others love the feel of an open-roof baseball game.
However, many people agree on the fact that Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, is not among the league’s best ballparks.
Can you tell I don't like indoor baseball stadiums? 🏟 pic.twitter.com/O28oXFv7ce
— The Game Day MLB (@TheGameDayMLB) February 2, 2023
Again, these are all depending on the likes and dislikes of each person and is by no means an official list.
First, we must clarify that it is Tropicana Field and not Tropicana Park like the above image shows.
It does seem to be a theme, though: few people like Tropicana Field.
That, besides other factors (nearby population and/or distance from downtown being an important one) combine to affect the Rays’ attendance numbers.
To put it in a better way, it’s not particularly easy to access Tropicana Field.
Tropicana Field has by far the lowest population within 30 minutes in the majors. A move to Tampa/Ybor City more than doubles that number.#Rays ownership lies and threatens the split city concept to try and force the Tampa taxpayers to pay an unfair share of a new ballpark. pic.twitter.com/ht5QaR6MiT
— Jonathan Arnholz (@JArnholz) October 9, 2021
In many home games (most, to be completely fair) the stadium doesn’t even look half full.
The closest it has been to being a packed place with a notable baseball atmosphere has been the playoffs.
On some occasions and against specific teams, the Rays have even fewer fans than the visiting team.
Analyzing just stadium-related things and offerings, fans around Twitter say that it doesn’t have much to offer.
I’ve been to 22/30 MLB stadiums and can’t speak to the experience he had, but Tropicana Field as a baseball stadium and everything the stadium experience had to offer (concourse, concessions, stadium itself, etc.) is easily my least favorite out of them all so far https://t.co/t8VLi2WMtE
— Cristina (@cristinannd) June 22, 2022
If you add that to the quirks that can affect the in-game experience – with the roof being a notorious one – the experience is not ideal for most fans.
MLB has been flirting with the idea of relocating the Rays franchise to another city or town.
One thing is true, though: despite the situation and the uncertainty, the Rays have been very competitive on the field.
NEXT: Rays Reporter Discusses Team's 2023 Outlook
