Tailgating now allowed at the Trop

Tailgating now allowed at the Trop
03/29/2006 5:40 PM ET By Dawn Klemish / MLB.com

ST. PETERSBURG -- Baseball fans received an added chance to celebrate on Wednesday, as team president Matt Silverman announced the Devil Rays will allow tailgating at Tropicana Field starting with the 2006 season.
"[The fans] want a more festive atmosphere at Tropicana Field; not just in the seating bowl, but out here in the parking lots," Silverman said. "The event starts when you pull in the parking lot. Tailgating adds to the overall experience -- the ambiance -- and we hope they take the party from the parking lot and bring it into Tropicana Field."
Raymond, the team mascot, and Devil Rays players Travis Harper, Doug Waechter, Scott Kazmir, Casey Fossum, Joey Gathright and Edwin Jackson were on hand in the Tropicana Field parking lot to visit with the crowd and help serve the catered barbecue buffet.
Fossum, a left-hander who is scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Tigers, said the surroundings reminded him of high school, when the community would gather, cook out and have a good time before the Friday night football games.
"Some places you walk up to and can kind of get a taste of the environment before you even [get inside]," he said, pointing out Boston's Fenway Park and Safeco Field in Seattle.
"Hopefully, they can bring that type of environment here."
The policy is just one of many changes implemented by the new Rays brass. Some others include lower ticket and concessions prices, free parking at Tropicana Field, new activities inside the park and $10 million in stadium renovations.
"Since the new owners have taken over, it seems like they're doing everything they can to get fans in the ballpark," Fossum said. "They're trying to get more fan-friendly, and I think that's great. If I were a fan, I'd be excited to come watch the Rays."
For Silverman, part of the plan to draw large crowds to the games involved becoming active listeners to the public's needs.
"This is something our fans have asked for," Silverman said. "Tailgating is a part of the local culture, and the tailgating parties that will take place here will be what our fans will make of it. We may sprinkle in some special events, but it's in our fans' hands to make it what it can be."
Fans will have their first tailgating opportunity on April 10, the Devil Rays' home opener against the Orioles. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET, and the stadium parking lots will open 2 1/2 hours before the game.
And Fossum said not to leave the grills at home.
"You walk up to the stadium and smell someone barbecuing, and that's just a great sports environment setting," he said. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

LETS PLAN AN OUTING FISH


<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 10</TD><TD align=left>Balt</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 11</TD><TD align=left>Balt</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 12</TD><TD align=left>Balt</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 13</TD><TD align=left>Balt</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 14</TD><TD align=left>KC</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 15</TD><TD align=left>KC</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 16</TD><TD align=left>KC</TD><TD align=left>1:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left></TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 28</TD><TD align=left>Bos</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 29</TD><TD align=left>Bos</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>Apr 30</TD><TD align=left>Bos</TD><TD align=left>1:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>May 1</TD><TD align=left>Tex</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>May 2</TD><TD align=left>Tex</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>May 3</TD><TD align=left>NYY</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM</TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left> </TD><TD align=left></TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left>May 4</TD><TD align=left>NYY</TD><TD align=left>7:15 PM
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FRIDAY THE 28th would work well for me as well as THURSAY the 4th. I'll bring the grill!!!!

it's not like there is a huge demand for parking spots at Devil Dogs' games so why not let the fan/fans tailgate in the parking lot

HOWEVER

knowing what Tampa is (in)famous for (Fish knows where i am going with this) i say have of theat city's finest "talent" show up at games dressed as sexy as when they are on stage and let the fans "tail gate" THAT way. gotta think that besides a certain part of the male anatomy - crowds will also rise and increase at the games

Anxious to check this out, I'll be out in Vegas on opening day though---

Extreme makeover: Tropicana Field
04/05/2006 5:06 PM ET
By Dawn Klemish / MLB.com

ST. PETERSBURG -- Consistency, a welcoming atmosphere and an instilled sense of pride. These are all things architects sought to create during an intense makeover of Tropicana Field this offseason.

Thousands of man hours and more than $10 million later, the nearly-finished product is nothing short of remarkable.
"The first impression is the physical nature of the Trop, and we are looking at every detail to make sure that it is up to standards," Rays president Matt Silverman said. "At every turn, [the fans] are going to see new surprises, new upgrades, additions, and they're going to start to feel that sense of pride in their homes that we feel a sense of pride at Tropicana Field as our home."
There are changes everywhere you look.
The concourse walls, formerly green, white and exposed cement, now glow with warm burgundy, lime, purple and pacific blue hues. The bathrooms were brightened with paint, a grid ceiling, and a new lighting system, countertops and tile floors.
The makeover carried out onto the field, where a new-and-improved sound system was being hoisted in place. The outfield walls, adorned with green designs last season, will be painted all green, Silverman said, "for the look of a more traditional baseball field." Behind home plate, the Kane's Club now has 185 faux leather chairs with armrests.
The walls facing the field, which vice president of stadium operations Rick Nafe said likely hadn't been cleaned since Tropicana Field was built, were scrubbed to their original shine. A telltale sign of how badly this cosmetic detail was needed showed just below the dome in right field, where a strip of yet-to-be-scrubbed dark brown grime stood out noticeably as the lone blemish on a now-gray backdrop.
Julie Maldonado and Ana Rabelo Wallrapp, the Wannemacher Russell architects who oversaw the renovations from Day 1, said a combination of a small timeframe and the amount of work that needed to be done made this project a mammoth one.
"I knew this was going to be a challenge," Wallrapp said, "And I love challenges."
Even more indication of the dramatic overhaul was found in the stands. Each of the 35,000 plastic blue chairs was sanded down by hand and given a fresh coat of paint. Some season ticket holders will even have their names emblazoned on the backs of their seats.
Club-level guests will now be treated to a glass entryway, new paint, posh furniture, an extra bar and concession stand, and modern deco lighting. All the Rays suites received makeovers as well, including new furniture, cupboards, wood flooring and flat-screen televisions.
Artwork of current and former Rays players is on display on various walls in the press box and around the stadium, ranging from serious -- the back of left-fielder Carl Crawford as he stands in the on-deck circle -- to fun; a photo of Rocco Baldelli with his face covered in pie guards over the media dining room. All told, 220 television screens were installed throughout the building so fans, wherever they may be, will not miss out on any game action.
More upgrades were found behind the scenes. The clubhouse, which formerly gave off a cave-like aura with its exposed cement block walls, received a paint job concurrent with the public's view, as well as new furniture and smart-looking wooden lockers. A vibrant Rays' logo was painted on the floor in front of the four flat-screen televisions which hang from the ceiling in the middle of the room. A glimpse of the upgrades can be seen from the training facilities, as well as the whirlpool area.
As far as the Rays organization has come in the past six months, Silverman said there is still work to be done. The Rays Tank, an aquarium filled with live rays fans may look at and touch, will not be completed until July. Silverman also offered that the organization is considering changing the scoreboard next season.
"We're going to gauge reactions and make sure we are responsive to things we may have missed," he said, adding that the facility will be "90 percent-plus" completed by Opening Day. "Our fans are going to know that there's still some progress to be made and that each time they come back, there's going to be more and more to see."

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Now they just need to blow up the roof or move to the Minor League ballpark in St Pete (on the water) to get some fans there.

By far the worst ballpark I have ever visited at any level!

I'd rather go to that sportsbar across the steet

Rob, you been there? Ferg's is a decent hang before a game.

I thought you were speaking of the Trop in AC and i figured all the losers came out of the casino and started drinking in the parking lot and then it hit me they have been doing that for years!!

mj 23 said:

I thought you were speaking of the Trop in AC and i figured all the losers came out of the casino and started drinking in the parking lot and then it hit me they have been doing that for years!!

Click to expand...

:lolBIG:

I will be at the Trop--and Ferg's--on opening night!

hno:

mj 23 said:

I thought you were speaking of the Trop in AC and i figured all the losers came out of the casino and started drinking in the parking lot and then it hit me they have been doing that for years!!

Click to expand...

Guilty myself.....Tailgating at the Trop, WTF!??!?!?!?

I will be at the Trop--and Ferg's--on opening night!

Click to expand...

BART-
All the guys are going, i will be in Vegas. E-mail me sometime, Your e-mail didn't work last time I tried. Thinking of going to a game when the BOSOX are in town. Get mine from fish or Wil if you don't recall it.

5teamparlay said:

BART-
All the guys are going, i will be in Vegas. E-mail me sometime, Your e-mail didn't work last time I tried. Thinking of going to a game when the BOSOX are in town. Get mine from fish or Wil if you don't recall it.

Click to expand...

I will. Huge Sox fan myself, but I think I may have company in town that weekend. I'll try to sneak away.

Appears that I will be coming with a large crew for OPENING NIGHT.

Hope to meet up with you Black Bart.