Raymond James Stadium - Review

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

Originally Posted by BucFan

I'm not going to complain anymore about the Trop. I appreciate the cheap price for baseball, the air conditioning, the easy parking. I'm going to hate it when a new stadium is built and the price per ticket will be jacked up x2-3. I definitely will stay home then.

Exclusive Poll: Tampa Bay Rays should stay at Tropicana Field

ST. PETERSBURG -- 25 Dec 2010

According to an exclusive St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll, the majority of people feel the Tampa Bay Rays should remain at Tropicana Field and another stadium somewhere else probably won't change the likelihood that they'll attend more games.

Moderator cut: copyright

Is the new stadium even going to get built? I don't want to Move to Tampa and lose the Rays because they are my favorite MLB franchise.

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

As For Raymond James, coming from Orlando it is a nice Venue. Best venue in the state.

[casanova baby!]

Originally Posted by BucFan

I'm not going to complain anymore about the Trop. I appreciate the cheap price for baseball, the air conditioning, the easy parking. I'm going to hate it when a new stadium is built and the price per ticket will be jacked up x2-3. I definitely will stay home then.

Exclusive Poll: Tampa Bay Rays should stay at Tropicana Field

ST. PETERSBURG -- 25 Dec 2010

According to an exclusive St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll, the majority of people feel the Tampa Bay Rays should remain at Tropicana Field and another stadium somewhere else probably won't change the likelihood that they'll attend more games.

Moderator cut: copyright

I agree with this completely.

I grew up going to games at the Vet. If you wanna know what it was like to watch a bad team play in a toilet bowl, that was it. The Trop isn't bad at all. If they just replaced the dome and the grey drab outfield wall with hurricane proof polarized window panels, used this new found sunlight to lay down sod and moved the bullpens off the playing field they'd have a pretty decent stadium down there. Hell, they can even go a step further and rip out the concessions and move them across the concourse to give an unobstructed view of the field while walking around the park. It'd probably cost them a few thousand seats, but I'd rather see the place have a smaller capacity then a sea of unsold seats.

Unlike most, I like the location. I'd rather walk out of a game knowing that Central Ave restaurants and shops are a quick walk away instead of heading out into the streets of Tampa's downtown which all but shuts down at 5:00 each night. People in Tampa can complain all they want about having to drive to St Pete, but why appease these people just to inconvenience the St Pete residents who would then have to drive an hour to see their team play?

[Kevin from Tampa]

Ray Jay is a good stadium. The only thing I'd agree with you on is the food inside, and maybe some stuff for kids. Other than that, it's great.

Stuff to do around the stadium? eh...that's what tailgates are for.

Fan shops? Maybe....but does that make it less of a stadium? No, not really.

The things I look for in a stadium are...

Good sight lines. Check. Not a bad seat in RJ.
Comfy seats. Check.
Easy access to bathrooms. Check.
Good replay board. Check.
Easy access to food. Check.
Good food. I agree that more and better food could be offered.
TVs in concourses. Check.
Get in and out of the stadium easily and quickly. Check.
Good parking. Check.

Anything else is just "nice" to have. I'm there to watch football, not make a destination of it.

[Kevin from Tampa]

Originally Posted by casanova baby!

I agree with this completely.

I grew up going to games at the Vet. If you wanna know what it was like to watch a bad team play in a toilet bowl, that was it. The Trop isn't bad at all. If they just replaced the dome and the grey drab outfield wall with hurricane proof polarized window panels, used this new found sunlight to lay down sod and moved the bullpens off the playing field they'd have a pretty decent stadium down there. Hell, they can even go a step further and rip out the concessions and move them across the concourse to give an unobstructed view of the field while walking around the park. It'd probably cost them a few thousand seats, but I'd rather see the place have a smaller capacity then a sea of unsold seats.

Unlike most, I like the location. I'd rather walk out of a game knowing that Central Ave restaurants and shops are a quick walk away instead of heading out into the streets of Tampa's downtown which all but shuts down at 5:00 each night. People in Tampa can complain all they want about having to drive to St Pete, but why appease these people just to inconvenience the St Pete residents who would then have to drive an hour to see their team play?

Because the number of people in St Pete who go to game is a LOT less than the number of people in Tampa who do, or would. You been to south St Pete, or the shuffleboard courts?

Besides, it's not about Tampa vs St Pete....we need to move past this stupid Bill Foster provincialism. It's about a location that will draw the most fans, and downtown St Pete ain't it.

Oh...and if you put a Rays stadium in DT Tampa, you can bet that bars and restaurants would spring up around it. Do you know what was at the site of the Trop 20 years ago? Nothing, almost literally.

[BucFan]

Had the chance to go see the Bucs play at the Superdome this past weekend.

It was my first time in the NOLA dome - and wasn't impressed whatsoever and wouldn't trade the experience of our stadium for the Superdome anytime. The only thing that I can think of that the Bucs should adopt is having some sort of massive fanfest area outside of the gates. The seating is so packed that you can barely move around in your area and getting up is a major pain in the neck for everyone in your row. The foot isn't good - and the prices are the same, overpriced. There's nothing nearby as far as restaurants like the OP wanted at RJS. I guess you'd have to go to the French Quarter for that - about 2-3 miles away.

[FloridaKash]

Originally Posted by BucFan

Had the chance to go see the Bucs play at the Superdome this past weekend.

It was my first time in the NOLA dome - and wasn't impressed whatsoever and wouldn't trade the experience of our stadium for the Superdome anytime. The only thing that I can think of that the Bucs should adopt is having some sort of massive fanfest area outside of the gates. The seating is so packed that you can barely move around in your area and getting up is a major pain in the neck for everyone in your row. The foot isn't good - and the prices are the same, overpriced. There's nothing nearby as far as restaurants like the OP wanted at RJS. I guess you'd have to go to the French Quarter for that - about 2-3 miles away.

After speaking with several others around the office who come from all different cities it appears having restaurants and bars to be across the street from the stadium is extremely rare. Must be a Seattle thing, which probably explains Qwest Field and Safeco Field (built right next to each other to utilize the parking garage they built) is one of the loudest in the league.

With that said and recognized, I would say Raymond James is a fine stadium. It is very easy to get in and out of.... easier than Seaworld at closing on a busy day The facility is newer, modern and clean.

Hopefully once their contracts are up with the current vendors they will build some better eateries that the masses can patron. I would like to see some activities for fans and their kids, but since there are only 8 games at home each year I see more people spending time watching the game in lieu of enjoying some extra activities.

[BucFan]

The Glazers probably wouldn't agree to it, but I'd recommend some kind food vendor alley near the front gate to allow various vendors to supply their type of food - possibly have some sort of massive beer tent (like the Germans) and let the fans enjoy various types of food. Set up trailers w/ vendors providing food - like the Annual Taste of Vinoy Festival at St Pete. Of course that would take away from the Glazer's vending inside the stadium but would add to the outside, pregame excitement. Also have one big rock/country group near one of the main entrances prefer south) - inside of these small rinky-dink bands they're using. The jazz group in the club section is pretty good, imo.

But there isn't enough fan activities outside the gates before games, like you said.