It’s not often you see a tuxedoed broadcaster welcome fans back for a new season from the baseball diamond.
That’s what longtime voice of the Rays, Andy Freed, was wearing as he boomed, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome home,” from a podium behind the pitcher’s mound on Monday, April 6. Because for the first time in more than a year, Tampa Bay’s home team took the field at the Trop.
“It has been 561 days since baseball was last played here at Tropicana Field,” Freed continued, unphased by a minutes-long technical delay. “When you speak it out loud, you realize just how much life has happened in between.”
One major hurricane that ripped off the dome’s roof, one failed stadium deal, one fresh stadium deal, dozens of city council and county commission meetings, and months of $75+ million in repairs later, the stadium is officially back open.
Rays staff and construction teams hustled nonstop over the past several months to get the hurricane-tattered stadium ready for fans. Some staffers even worked through the night in the lead up to the opener against the Cubs, said Rays’ Chief Business Officer Bill Walsh. In fact, workers were still painting, installing drywall, and getting final details in place before fans returned to the old, yet new digs.
Here’s a peek at the renovations:
SkyDeck
The Trop boasts a new SkyDeck where fans can watch the game and snack on unlimited eats for $49. The standing room area lines the outfield, and is nestled under graphics of another TBAY icon, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. What’s on the menu? Think baseball staples like pretzel sticks, hot dogs, pulled chicken nachos, and soft drinks.
Cownose Clubhouse
The Rays’ touch tank experience — arguably the Trop’s most distinctive feature — is back. This time, with its own moniker: The Cownose Clubhouse. The 10,000-gallon tank is still located behind the outfield, but features all-new graphics, including one explaining what a “fever” means.
Brighter feel
It’s hard to explain just how different the light itself feels in the Trop now. The new roof panels feel whiter than the old dingy gray ones, creating a more daylight-esque look. That’s because the new roof is made with one layer of Teflon fabric instead of two, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
DEX Home Plate Club
Tucked right off the field — seriously, you can catch glimpses of the game when the door opens — is a brand-new speakeasy experience. Sip on Casamigos and other liquor-infused drinks in the dark blue and wood-beamed bar nook. There’s also a specialty candy room stuffed with everything from Swedish Fish boxes and Twix bars to homemade tiramisu.
The Baldwin Group Club
Yes, you get to watch the action unfold from new cushy leather seats on the first base line. But the brand-new club itself is decked out with a gold-plated dessert station, a full bar, and a full buffet.
