Tropicana Field

[therealcjc33]

My wife and I are going to Orlando in September and thinking about checking out a Rays game.

Is it worth visiting? Please be honest.

What are some fun things to do around there?

[mfw13]

No.

Baseball games on artificial turf in a domed stadium are horrible....

You'd have to pay me a substantial sum of money to watch a game there.

Heck, I even root against the Rays in the playoffs simply because I don't want to see World Series games played there.

[seanbros55]

Also, it’s 90+ minutes from Orlando to Tampa

[yodastories]

Originally Posted by seanbros55

Also, it’s 90+ minutes from Orlando to Tampa

On I-4 no less, one of the most miserable highways in the country. Have your will in order.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

I’ve been to 17 Major League Stadiums in my life and have the Trop raked as the worst. (I’m all fairness, I’ve never been to Oakland.)

And yes, it’s at least a 90+ minute drive from Orlando, and that’s with good traffic, but that’s rare on I-4/I-275. If you want to go watch a game, do it, if you’re only going to see the stadium… there’s better things to do.

[Viking6]

No.

Unless staying in Tampa a few days where you go to Busch Gardens or the Aquarium etc... the Drive from Orlando to Tampa + getting in and out of the area where the stadium is would be a horror show.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Go to a Daytona Tortugas game instead! The drive on I-4 East isn’t as bad, and Jackie Robinson Stadium is a real blast from the past. I love going to games there.

[peterose4hof]

Agree it's a terrible stadium and the location is tough to get to.

If you decide to go I recommend Ferg's Sports Bar as a good spot to pregame.
Good food, cold beer, great gameday atmosphere.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by peterose4hof

Agree it's a terrible stadium and the location is tough to get to.

If you decide to go I recommend Ferg's Sports Bar as a good spot to pregame.
Good food, cold beer, great gameday atmosphere.

It’s pretty much the only place to go. The food is terrible, the beer is expensive, but I’ll admit… I have a soft spot for it. Pre-drank for a lot of Rays and College Bowl games there.

[PoPCulture]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

Go to a Daytona Tortugas game instead! The drive on I-4 East isn’t as bad, and Jackie Robinson Stadium is a real blast from the past. I love going to games there.

I 2nd this suggestion. Once you get past the construction (which isn’t terrible now) in East Orlando/Sanford it is smooth sailing. Plus you can relax a bit in Daytona since it’s well past Spring Break, Bike week and all the other hell weeks that happen there.

[therealcjc33]

I truly appreciate the feedback guys! I think we will just skip this one lol.

[gmoney328]

Good old Fergs. Oh the hangovers.

[TimBuckTwo]

If you risk your life do it only on a bobblehead giveaway night.

I would be down for that.

[Mandy1320]

Yes, you should go.

So that when you go to literally any other park, you will have a greater appreciation for it.

[towerymt]

I have not been. I would go if I was in the Tampa area during the regular season. But I probably wouldn't travel very far. Depends who is playing though, that might sway me.

Went to a White Sox game while in Chicago in 2017 (Cubs were away). Not a great ballpark, Sox v. Tigers not a great matchup, but glad I went.

I would look for a minor league game instead if being outside in the sun adds enjoyment of a baseball game.

[Soxrule111]

Yes its worth going. Arguably the best team in baseball.

Its a Dome, no Bad Weather.

Who gives a #@#@#@#@ about the Turf, your not on it.... Ive never understood the hate for the Trop from a. Fans perspective.

[awz50]

Go it's worth it

Don't listen to people saying it's crap. It's worth going to

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Soxrule111

Yes its worth going. Arguably the best team in baseball.

Its a Dome, no Bad Weather.

Who gives a #@#@#@#@ about the Turf, your not on it.... Ive never understood the hate for the Trop from a. Fans perspective.

How many games at the Trop have you been to? Have you visited a lot of stadiums in general? I mean, all people are saying is that it’s the worst stadium in the league (maybe next to last with Oakland), but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun day of enjoying baseball. Someone has to be last.

[LeveragdSellout]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I’ve been to 17 Major League Stadiums in my life and have the Trop raked as the worst. (I’m all fairness, I’ve never been to Oakland.)

And yes, it’s at least a 90+ minute drive from Orlando, and that’s with good traffic, but that’s rare on I-4/I-275. If you want to go watch a game, do it, if you’re only going to see the stadium… there’s better things to do.

I’ve been to 20+, including Oakland, and agree.

[endthecurse]

Been to several games the last two years at The Trop. Agree with most of what was already said --

-- Terrible stadium. Bad aesthetics and dead quiet for most of the game. Great baseball, though.
-- PITA to access, especially from Tampa and points east. I live in Sarasota half the year and traffic isn't bad from this direction.
-- Ferg's. Yuge indoor/outdoor bar. Walk under a tunnel to the stadium. Sat/Sun Rays games during NFL/college season are a blast, since Ferg's is packed with fans from every team on TV at the time.
-- I'd also recommend Green Bench Brewing, a solid local brewery, and Burnt Ends for BBQ and fun drinks. Both are a couple blocks away.

[atk825]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I’ve been to 17 Major League Stadiums in my life and have the Trop raked as the worst. (I’m all fairness, I’ve never been to Oakland.)

And yes, it’s at least a 90+ minute drive from Orlando, and that’s with good traffic, but that’s rare on I-4/I-275. If you want to go watch a game, do it, if you’re only going to see the stadium… there’s better things to do.

Oakland is a crappy stadium but at least the weather is always nice and it's directly on BART, so it's easy to get in and out. From what I understand from Tampa is that it's not very conveniently located unless you are in a specific part of St Pete.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by atk825

Oakland is a crappy stadium but at least the weather is always nice and it's directly on BART, so it's easy to get in and out. From what I understand from Tampa is that it's not very conveniently located unless you are in a specific part of St Pete.

Correct.

[Silent George]

Originally Posted by therealcjc33

My wife and I are going to Orlando in September and thinking about checking out a Rays game.

Is it worth visiting? Please be honest.

What are some fun things to do around there?

Everyone is saying no.

Of course you should go. (though it ain't close to Orlando)

The Rays and their young stars in September in some sort of playoff push?

Yes. Who cares what the venue is?

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Silent George

Everyone is saying no.

Of course you should go. (though it ain't close to Orlando)

The Rays and their young stars in September in some sort of playoff push?

Yes. Who cares what the venue is?

I guess it depends on what he’s asking. If he’s just asking whether he should go watch some baseball, then the answer is always yes. Always go watch baseball when you can. If he’s asking about should he see the stadium for the sake of seeing the stadium, then the answer is no. Also, he’s asking about things around the stadium, and there isn’t much to do except drink at Ferg’s.

[therealcjc33]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I guess it depends on what he’s asking. If he’s just asking whether he should go watch some baseball, then the answer is always yes. Always go watch baseball when you can. If he’s asking about should he see the stadium for the sake of seeing the stadium, then the answer is no. Also, he’s asking about things around the stadium, and there isn’t much to do except drink at Ferg’s.

I was talking about going to a game lol. I looked up Uber/Lyft rates from Orlando to Tampa…SHEESH lol. I also looked into renting a car and it’s almost the same price as Uber/Lyft after you factor in gas and parking.

I’m going to ponder on it.