Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays Travel Guide: Tropicana Field

Getting to St. Petersburg & The Ballpark

After a devastating 2024 hurricane ripped the roof off Tropicana Field and forced the Rays to play the 2025 season in Tampa, the team is officially back home in St. Petersburg for 2026!

• Flying In: Tampa International Airport (TPA) is the primary hub, heavily serviced by Southwest, Delta, American, and United. It is about 17 miles from Tropicana Field.

• Airport Transit: Do not bother with the local buses (they take over an hour). Taking an Uber/Lyft or driving a rental car across the bay directly into St. Petersburg is the absolute best and most efficient option.

• The Neighborhood: The stadium sits just west of the vibrant downtown St. Petersburg area. While there are not many hotels immediately next to the stadium gates, downtown St. Pete (about 1.5 miles away) is packed with incredible dining, waterfront parks, and great lodging.

Where to Stay

If you want to focus on baseball and city nightlife, stay in downtown St. Petersburg. If you want to mix baseball with a beach vacation, stay out on St. Pete Beach (about 9 miles west of the stadium).

Budget Options

• Hyatt Place St. Petersburg/Downtown: This is a fantastic, comfortable basecamp. It features a free daily breakfast, rooms with sofa beds for families, and a massive 59-foot outdoor rooftop pool with city views. It is about a 1.5-mile walk to the stadium (or a very quick drive) and is bookable for around 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

• Hampton Inn & Suites St. Petersburg/Downtown: Located near the Hyatt, this hotel offers the classic Hampton Inn reliability. It features a surprisingly large outdoor pool with plenty of lounge chairs, a free hot breakfast, and rooms with balconies. It is a very easy 5-minute drive to the stadium.

Higher-End Options

• The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection: This historic pink resort sits right on the downtown waterfront. It is the ultimate luxury stay in St. Pete, featuring a golf course, tennis courts, a full-service spa, multiple pools, and high-end seafood dining overlooking the marina. Bookable for around 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, it is perfect for fans who want a resort experience while still being close to the ballpark.

• The Don CeSar: Known as the legendary "Pink Palace," this beachfront resort is located about 9 miles away on St. Pete Beach. It offers absolute luxury with two heated outdoor pools, an 11,000-square-foot spa, an upscale restaurant, and a private beach. If you are splurging on a beach vacation and don't mind the 20-minute drive into town for the game, this is an incredible choice.

Nearby Activities

• The Dalí Museum: Located right on the downtown St. Pete waterfront, this stunning architectural marvel houses the largest collection of Salvador Dalí's surrealist artwork outside of Europe.

• St. Pete Pier: This newly redesigned, massive 26-acre waterfront pier features walking paths, public art, a splash pad for kids, and incredible restaurants extending right out into Tampa Bay.

Pregame Food and Drink

The Edge District (located between downtown and the stadium) is packed with incredible, laid-back pregame options.

• Quick & Casual Bites: Walk just a block north of the stadium to Red Mesa Mercado for excellent walk-up window burritos and tacos. Right next door is Bodega on Central, famous for its legendary Cuban sandwiches and fresh juices. If you want a sit-down American meal, head to Engine No. 9 for what many consider the best burger in the area.

• The Brewery Scene: St. Pete has an explosive craft beer scene. Green Bench Brewing Company specializes in ales and IPAs and features a massive outdoor beer garden just a block from the stadium. For a massive entertainment venue, visit 3 Daughters Brewing, which offers a massive tasting room, game tables, live music, and pub food.

• Inside the Stadium: If you want to get inside early, visit Ballpark & Rec. Located right inside Tropicana Field, this indoor/outdoor bar features arcade games, yard games, and great pregame drink specials.

Getting to the Event

• Walking & Transit: If you are staying downtown and the weather is nice, the 1.5-mile walk to the stadium is very doable. If it is too hot and humid, the city operates a free trolley/shuttle service (the SunRunner) that drops you right near the stadium.

• Parking: Tropicana Field is one of the easiest MLB stadiums to drive to. The team operates massive surface lots that are generally cheaper than most other stadiums. Local Hack: The Rays often offer free parking for cars carrying four or more passengers, making it incredibly cheap for families!

Where to Sit at Tropicana Field

To celebrate the 2026 reopening of the stadium, the Rays have reduced ticket prices for a majority of the seats, making it one of the most affordable tickets in baseball!

• The Best Value & Views: Because of the massive foul territory, the seats furthest down the baselines (Sections 119-122) actually angle you incredibly close to the action. Warning: If you buy tickets in the 100-level, avoid the very back rows, as the overhanging 200-level will obstruct your view of pop flies.

• Away Fans: If you are cheering for the visiting team, look for Sections 111-117. These put you directly behind the visitor's dugout on the third-base side.

• The Ray Tank: For a uniquely Tampa Bay experience, buy tickets in Section 150 in the outfield. You will be right next to the famous Rays Touch Tank, and you will have a great shot at catching a home run ball.

• The Budget Seats: The overhanging 200 and 300 levels actually hang much closer to the field than the upper decks in other stadiums. You can buy a dirt-cheap ticket in the upper level behind home plate and still get a fantastic, sweeping view of the game.