Escape the humidity and avoid a hurricane (nearly 100-years free) while you take in some expansion ball from the team that's almost reached the pinnacle enough to keep people coming back--they're surely not doing it for the architecture. Easy parking factor: you'll walk a little, but you'll park on the cheap attending Rays games. $10 lots galore, or maybe $15, plus you can probably rideshare over if you're looking to avoid the stroll. Cheap ticket factor: yes my friends, who actually cares about Rays ball except the locals? I know I sure don't (said to the scalper to get some good deals). Throw in ticket aftermarket sites and you'll score some single-digit gems or certainly under $20. It's cozier with the 300 level closed. Get the royal field-level treatment for less than some parks too. Welcoming factor: Love and be loved at Tropicana. Catch a bunch of future Sox/Yanks before they're big-time, still making $200K/yr. Friendly fans who actually like the sport and the team since it's not always a championship year here. Food factor: leave your greenbacks at home since Tropicana is now cashless, but you'll be able to swipe that plastic for plenty of choices inside the park. Recovering from "worst food safety" award in 2017, enjoy edamame, protein bowls, coconut shrimp along with that Cuban sandwich or Pipo's Chicken. Move freely about the cabin factor: since people are mainly other places than here on gameday, you'll have plenty of chances to catch the action closer (or farther away) if you decide to roam after inning 6 like you should. Stretch those legs up near the nosebleed and you'll be high but not far from the action thanks to only 25K seats (sort of feels like a college basketball arena). Hang out near field level or look down on the bullpen for an alternate view. Little kid souvenir factor: still that minor-league expansion-team feel here, so plenty of chances to interact with players before they're worth $120mil. Definitely great for batting practice foul-ball and autograph-getting from the visiting team. It's laid-back West-Coast South-Florida charm at its finest. Add in some fan-friendly players, without the chip on their shoulder, dressed in powder blues, and "look kids it's baseball in Tampa!" read more

Tampa Bay Rays - Tampa, Florida

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I'm very impressed with this young club. Their players have poise and maturity beyond their years. Their park, while not new, is accessible, comfortable, and the prices are NOT expensive. Foremost, congratulations on beating the over-vaunted New York Yankees whose payroll is 400% more than that of the Rays. read more

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