John Kidde Writes

Spring Training has begun.

Hope springs eternal for all 30 Major League Baseball teams in 2025. I hope that one team in particular adds to their legacy.

My beloved Los Angeles Dodgers clawed back in Game 5 to beat the Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees. It was an epic performance of resilience, grit, and determination. It also was an epic collapse.

So, I figured I’d write a post (yes, I can literally see the last time I wrote something was in March) about baseball.

This will be the first in a series that will have me look at a different stadium from around the league. I, like many other people, am trying to see them all.

Thanks to my job in the airline industry, I can visit more parks and get “paid” to do it. I put paid in quotes because it’s just a per diem at that point, so the pay is minimal.

Leading off this series is Tropicana Field. Home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

I had always read about The Trop, as it’s casually referred to, in the most dire of terms. “Dilapodated”, “Run Down”, and “Archaic” were words that were thrown around. Let me tell you, it’s not that bad! I’ve been to the Oakland Coliseum (RIP Oakland A’s- FJF), and The Trop is much more comfortable.

I ended up seeing the Rays vs the Mets. It was a tight affair, highlighted by a comeback and then a walk-off.

Admittedly, I did not have much time to explore the stadium. I showed up in the 4th inning because the stadium is a bit of a drive from the Tampa airport. Regardless, everything that I saw was well-maintained. The folks working the entry, concessions, and team store were also very kind and helpful.

After the win, I went to the team store to score some swag. I am an avid pin collector and needed a new pin to add to my collection. The Rays had worn their “City Connect” uniforms at this game. The uniform features a black background highlighted by neon blues, purples, and greens. They also have this siiiick devil ray riding a skateboard.

The idea behind this design stems from the skateboarding culture in Tampa Bay. It’s a fun image, so I bought it as a pin and magnet.

The area surrounding the stadium is fairly residential. Ingress and egress to the stadium can clog up once the game is over. I waited a hot minute for a Lyft back to my hotel because roads were blocked or rerouted to get people out of the stadium area quickly.

It is a shame it was damaged during Hurricane Milton. It’s a unique field and atmosphere. I look forward to my next visit!