Tropicana field - fat seating (Tampa: home, buy, restaurants)

[cfischer69]

Ok. No flames please. I want to take my boys to see the Rays play baseball. The problem is I'm fat. Really fat. How fat? I buy an extra coach seat when flying so as to ensure that no one next to me hates me for the 4.5 hour flight to LA. No, the armrest wouldn't go down if I were sitting there...just a few inches too much of me.

Yes, I know I should lose weight. But that's a different thread.

So, am I going to be able to squeeze into a stadium seat? Or go through the embarrassment of contacting the box office for "special seating?"

[Kevin from Tampa]

well, let's see....

1-there is handicapped seating....basically they can put folding chairs in certain places where regular stadium seats have open spaces next to them...usually on a concourse

2-there are restaurants where you can watch the game from tables.

3-The whitney bank club is pricy but that would work for you

4-there are a few places with standing areas...the TBT area (formerly "The Beach") is one....also, I think the deck in left center has standing room

5-there are no "fat seats" anywhere, or bleachers....however, a weekday game would not be crowded. If you sat in the upper deck out toward the outfield, you'd be able to sit on a step in the aisle next to the regular seats.

[jetlag]

Originally Posted by Kevin from Tampa

well, let's see....

1-there is handicapped seating....basically they can put folding chairs in certain places where regular stadium seats have open spaces next to them...usually on a concourse

2-there are restaurants where you can watch the game from tables.

3-The whitney bank club is pricy but that would work for you

4-there are a few places with standing areas...the TBT area (formerly "The Beach") is one....also, I think the deck in left center has standing room

5-there are no "fat seats" anywhere, or bleachers....however, a weekday game would not be crowded. If you sat in the upper deck out toward the outfield, you'd be able to sit on a step in the aisle next to the regular seats.

#1 is probably your best bet. Call the ticket office and explain your situation. You're not the first fat guy to go to a baseball game. They'll accommodate you.

#2 might work. The Batter's Eye restaurant in center field is a buffet. It's a little pricey, $30 I think, but has a great view. I've wanted to go there for a long time but I'm not much of a buffet guy.


#5, the ushers won't let you sit on the steps. They normally don't even let you stand there long unless you're waiting to get down a row. The usher in our section last week was very busy barking at kids that were on the steps.

[vaughanwilliams]

Aren't the big dollar seats like recliners? The ones behind home plate.

[jetlag]

Originally Posted by vaughnwilliams

Aren't the big dollar seats like recliners? The ones behind home plate.

I'm not sure if they're recliners, but when my wife checked last week they were $200 a seat

[BucFan]

there's the Beach area in the Left Field - I think you can stand up out there as well.

I'd recommend attending one of the games where attendance isn't going to be high- that way you can move around the stadium pretty much where you want - in the outfield, third deck areas -

definitely call the service department who'll help you.

BTW, you won't be able to squeeze and still be comfortable in the regular stadium seats.

[cfischer69]

Thanks everyone for the very helpful feedback. I now at least have a, er, gameplan, for getting my boys to see the Rays.

[BucFan]

the Rays might be the most fan-friendly organizations - this coming from someone who has gone to major league sports venues for 30+ years.