Why Tropicana Field Will Always Be a Landmark for Rays Fans
By Kevin and Ulises
Plant City and Ybor City, FL
It is very easy to spot someone who hasn’t lived through Florida summers when they disparage Tropicana Field. For anybody that has lived through them, the Trop is a refuge where not only are you away from the elements, but you’re also watching the game’s best players going at it. Its unique setup and quirky rules might be annoying to others around the country, but for Rays fans, it’s a landmark—a tangible part of our community. It was a place where you can meet up to celebrate birthdays with family, or with friends you always hang out with or those that haven’t been in town for years. For us, it meant going to Fan Fest together during college, hanging with friends and people that enjoy the podcast, and walking all around the Trop trying to never miss first pitch.
When the first videos and pictures filtered through social media on the Trop’s roof, it was jarring. For a lot of Rays fans, the Trop has always been around, reminding us during our ‘chilly’ winter days that the most beautiful warehouse in the world will have baseball very soon. Though it seems this could potentially be the end of Tropicana Field—meaning Rays fans didn’t get a chance to knowingly say goodbye to a place that has so many memories—perhaps sharing these memories with other Rays fans can be a cathartic experience that many might need.
About Kevin and Ulises
Kevin and Ulises are the original daily co-hosts of the Locked On Rays podcast, the only daily Tampa Bay Rays podcast since 2019. Besides baseball, they both enjoy maintaining an active lifestyle and will always appreciate a good baseball discussion.