THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS: THE UGLIEST FIELD

My thought of the day is that the Tampa Bay Rays (nee Devil Rays) play in the worst stadium in the major leagues. I know a thing or too about shitty stadiums, having endured twenty-something years of the now demolished concrete donut of Philly, The Vet. This Rays place is truly awful though. Probably the only good thing about it is that it's named "Tropicana Field" and Tropicana orange juice is pretty tasty.

So what makes it so bad? For one it's a dome. Domes usually suck. Retractable domes are fine because they can still grow real grass, but an all-year dome has about as much personality as a Lunchables pizza. Sure no rain delays, no wind, no cold. Great. Give me an American cheese and white bread sandwich while you're at it.

Let's take a little virtual tour.

Here's the outside



And the field, which looks a bit like a giant miniature golf hole.



Inside rotunda... at least they remind you of the delicious Florida OJ.



The outfield has a tank of sting rays for kids to pet, so I guess that's pretty cool too.



And a close-up of the dome



See all those catwalks up there? Well they're all in play! If it hits in homerun territory, it's a homerun, and if it hits the catwalk in foul territory, it's a foul ball. But I'm pretty sure that if it bounces back into the field, it's a playable ball. Absurd.

Tampa Bay (which isn't even a city.. it's a body of water) congrats, you have the worst stadium in sports... Oh, and go Phils! (Not that my team allegiance has anything to do with my opinion