Tropicana Field Facts for Kids

Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tropicana Field is a large, covered stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is a domed stadium, meaning it has a roof that covers the entire playing area. This stadium has been the home field for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team since 1998.

The stadium first opened in 1990. It was built with the hope of bringing a professional sports team to the city. Before the Rays, two other baseball teams, the Chicago White Sox and the San Francisco Giants, almost moved there. Tropicana Field was also once home to the NHL team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the AFL team, the Tampa Bay Storm.

The Rays' former manager, Joe Maddon, used to call the stadium "The Pit". However, fans often call it "The Trop" for short. The stadium has also been known by other names, like the Florida Suncoast Dome and the Thunderdome.

Preceded by first ballpark	Home of the Tampa Bay Rays 1998–present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by first venue	Home of the St. Petersburg Bowl 2008–present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by Expo Hall	Home of the Tampa Bay Lightning 1993–1996	Succeeded by Ice Palace
Preceded by first stadium	Home of the Tampa Bay Storm 1991–1996	Succeeded by Ice Palace
Preceded by Schleyerhalle Stuttgart	Davis Cup Final Venue 1990	Succeeded by Palais des Sports de Gerland Lyon
Preceded by Alamodome	NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Finals Venue 1999	Succeeded by RCA Dome

History of Tropicana Field
- Bringing Baseball to Tampa Bay
- Other Sports and Events
Unique Features of The Trop
- The Catwalks
- Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame
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See also

History of Tropicana Field

Tropicana Field was built to attract a major league sports team to the St. Petersburg area. It opened in 1990 as the Florida Suncoast Dome. For its first few years, it hosted various events, but no permanent team.

Bringing Baseball to Tampa Bay

The stadium was designed to be a baseball park, even though it didn't have a team at first. The city worked hard to bring a Major League Baseball (MLB) team to the area. They almost succeeded twice before the Tampa Bay Rays arrived.

In 1992, the Chicago White Sox considered moving to the stadium.
In 1995, the San Francisco Giants also thought about making it their new home.

Finally, in 1998, the Tampa Bay Rays (then called the Tampa Bay Devil Rays) began playing their home games at Tropicana Field. This made the stadium a permanent home for a major sports team.

Other Sports and Events

Before the Rays, Tropicana Field was home to other exciting sports. From 1993 to 1996, the Tampa Bay Lightning played their ice hockey games there. The Tampa Bay Storm, an arena football team, also called the stadium home from 1991 to 1996.

The stadium has also hosted big events like the Davis Cup tennis finals in 1990. In 1999, it was the venue for the Men's Division I Basketball Tournament finals, a very important college basketball event. Since 2008, it has also been the home of the St. Petersburg Bowl, a college football game.

Unique Features of The Trop

Tropicana Field has some interesting features because it is a domed stadium. The roof is supported by a unique system of cables and beams. This design helps protect games from Florida's hot weather and rain.

The Catwalks

One of the most talked-about features is the system of catwalks. These are walkways high above the field that support the roof. Sometimes, a batted baseball can hit these catwalks during a game. There are special rules for what happens when a ball hits them. For example, if a ball hits a lower catwalk, it might be a home run. If it hits a higher one, it might just be a foul ball.

Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame

Inside Tropicana Field, there is a special area called the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame. This museum celebrates great baseball hitters. It is named after Ted Williams, one of the best hitters in baseball history. Fans can visit this area to learn about famous players and their achievements.