Memorable Moments Tropicana Field Wade Boggs' 3,000 hit on August 7, 1999. Franchise 34 homeruns by Jose Canseco in 1999. TROPICANA FIELD 1 Stadium Drive St. Petersburg, Florida 33705 Ballpark Store More Ballpark Items

    After almost ten years after its completion, the Tampa Bay area finally received a team to play at Tropicana Field in 1998. Wanting to attract a major league baseball team to the area, construction began on a dome stadium in the Tampa/St. Petersburg on November 22, 1986. The stadium would have a dome roof because of the rain that the area receives throughout the year. Originally named the Florida Suncoast Dome, the stadium opened on March 3, 1990. Once the stadium opened, the area began trying to lure several teams (San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle) to the area. However, this was unsuccessful. The stadium was used for basketball, hockey, and many other events though. Finally, in 1995, Major League Baseball awarded the area a franchise. The team called the Tampa Bay Devil Rays would begin playing at the dome in 1998. Even though the stadium had been built for baseball, renovations  occured at the stadium to make it more like a baseball stadium. It was the last stadium built with a dome, and looked much like a cookie cutter stadium. The stadium was closed for 17 months when renovations began in October 1996. Also in 1996, the stadium was renamed Tropicana Field. Part of the $85 million renovations included wider concourses, installation of AstroTurf, clubhouses, dugouts, additional suites, restrooms, elevators, escalators and administrative offices. The seating capacity was also reduced from 48,000 to 45,000.

Finally, opening day baseball came to Tampa on March 31, 1998, when fans filled Tropicana Fields seats to see professional baseball. It was the first stadium to have an AstroTurf field with all dirt base paths. Fans enter the main entrance at Tropicana Field through a giant rotunda reminiscent of Brooklyn's Ebbets Field. Once inside the stadium, visitors find themselves in a place called Centerfield St. Here are a microbrewery, a cigar bar, a wine cellar and entertainment venues. Once you enter the field area, fans see a sea of blue seats. The lower level of seats wrap from the right center to homeplate and around to left center field. The upper level of seats extend from down the first base line to down the third base line. An area of seats above the lower level of seats in left field is a place called the Beach. This is a section with beach decor and tropical foliage. Beyond the centerfield wall is the Batter’s Eye Restaurant. The scoreboard is located beyond the right centerfield seats. After the 1999 season, the AstroTurf was removed, and replaced by FieldTurf, which is plastic grass. Tropicana Field's outfield wall has many nooks and crannies, which provides for interesting plays off the wall.  

             
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Name: Tropicana Field 
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Tenant: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Capacity: 45,000
Surface:  FieldTurf 
Construction Began: November 22, 1986
Opened: March 3, 1990, March 31, 1998 (MLB)
Cost: $138 Million, $85 Million (renovations)
Dimensions: 315-L, 404-C, 322-R
Architect: HOK
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